According to Pippa Lauka, doctor at Helmare, possible exposure situations in training situations can even be checked afterwards.
The European football championships have been overshadowed by the coronavirus this time as well. Infections have so far been found not only in Finland, but also in the English, Dutch and German teams.
Credit defender among Finnish players Tuija Hyyryne is a positive test result. Helmer’s doctor Pippa Laukan two members of the background group are also infected.
After a positive test result and the onset of symptoms, the player can return to the field after five days, if the last two days have been symptom-free. In theory, Hyyrynen could therefore play when he is fit in the final match of the first group against Germany on Saturday.
– In practice, five days from the onset of symptoms and two symptom-free days is that time. Of course, we must remember that the viral disease itself takes time for a top athlete before the player is fully fit to play, says Laukka.
Helmarit has tightened its measures against the virus after the infections. For example, Helmarit uses masks indoors and also requires them from the hotel staff.
– We take care of good hand and coughing hygiene as before, but we have tightened hand hygiene when eating, for example. We use gloves in the office and masks in dining areas other than during meals, Laukka says.
According to Lauka, additional and external contacts have also been minimized. In transportation, the group moves on two buses so that everyone has their own seat.
News agency AFP recently reported that pre-match tests are not mandatory at the European Championships. However, Laukka says that, for example, around 50 people are tested in Helmarei every day.
– The protocol is strict in the sense that, for example, the Finnish team has its own dining and lounge areas, which are not used by those outside the team. Only certain people have access to the so-called zone 1 at the venue, and masks are mandatory in the area.
According to Lauka, Helmarit can also check possible exposure situations in training situations afterwards.
– When the exercises are filmed, we are able to keep good records if there are possible exposures, that we have the data for it. We see situations that could potentially expose you to the virus, says Laukka.
In hotel rooms, people do not spend long periods of time in each other’s company, as everyone has had their own room since the beginning of the camp, which started at the end of June.
If more infections were to be seen in one of the teams, postponing the match could also come into question. However, according to UEFA, the match is played if there are at least 13 players in the team, including one goalkeeper. Ill players can be replaced with substitute players, but the replaced player can no longer be added to the player list afterwards.