2020 in Finland explained

Events from the year 2020 in Finland

Incumbents

• President

Sauli Niinistö

• Prime Minister

Sanna Marin

• Speaker

Matti Vanhanen (until 9 June), Anu Vehviläinen (from 9 June)

Events

January

• January 27  - Following the developments of COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China, Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Hubei province.^[1]
• January 28  - Finnair announced it would be suspending its five weekly routes to Nanjing and Beijing Daxing until the end of March.^[2]
• January 29  - COVID-19 pandemic in Finland: 1st confirmed case. A 32-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan sought medical attention in Ivalo and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. She had travelled from Wuhan. She was quarantined at Lapland Central Hospital in Rovaniemi.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}
• January 30  - Finland's health officials estimated that up to 24 people may have been exposed to the virus.^[7]

February

• February 5  - 3 of the 24 people suspected of being exposed have left Finland by this date, and 14 of the remaining 21 have been quarantined.^[8]
• February 26  - Finland's health officials confirmed the second case, a Finnish woman, who made a trip to Milan and was back in Finland on 22 February, tested positive at the Helsinki University Central Hospital.^[9]
• February 28  - a Finnish woman who had traveled to Northern Italy, tested positive by the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District and was advised to remain in home isolation.^{[10] [11]}

March

• March 6  - Blind Channel released their 3rd studio album "Violent Pop".
• March 13  - the remaining part of the 2019–20 Liiga season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.^[12]

August

• August 1 - Prime Minister Sanna Marin married her long-time partner Markus Räikkönen at Kesäranta.^[13]

October

• October 21  - The Vastaamo data breach case began with a then-unknown person or group (later revealed to be ex-Lizard Squad member Aleksanteri Kivimäki, also known as Julius Kivimäki^[14]) releasing online some of the data on patients and their histories that they had acquired from the Vastaamo psychotherapy centre. Among the affected were politician Kirsi Piha.^{[15] [16]}

December

• 4 December  - Three underage boys murdered a 16-year-old boy in an act of protracted violence in Helsinki.^[17]

Unknown date

• The Finns Party decides to cut ties with Finns Party Youth due to the perceived ethno nationalist support.

Deaths

January

See main article: Deaths in January 2020.

• 20 January – Reijo Kuistila, 88, Finnish Olympic equestrian.^[18]
• 23 January – Kalevi Tuominen, Hall of Fame basketball player, coach and executive (b. 1927)^[19]
• 30 January – Jörn Donner, writer, film director and politician (b. 1933)^[20]

February

See main article: Deaths in February 2020.

• 28 February – Stig-Göran Myntti, football and bandy player (b. 1925)^[21]

March

See main article: Deaths in March 2020.

• 5 March – Susanna Majuri, photographer (b. 1978)^[22]
• 7 March – Karri Käyhkö, Olympic swimmer (b. 1937)^[23]
• 11 March – Aarne Kainlauri, Olympic steeplechaser (b. 1915)^[24]
• 12 March – Juha Harjula, Olympic basketball player (b. 1942)^[25]
• 19 March  - Max Engman, historian and translator (b. 1945)^[26]
• 26 March  -, professor and politician, Liberal People's Party member of parliament 1972 - 1975 (b. 1935)^[27]

April

See main article: Deaths in April 2020.

• 4 April  - Pertti Paasio, politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1989–1991 (b. 1939)^[28]
• 5 April  - Pentti Linkola, writer, ornithologist and ecologist (b. 1932)^[29]
• 12 April  - Mikko Kaasalainen, mathematician (b. 1965)^[30]
• 15 April  - Vesa Törnroos, Olympic sports shooter (b. 1982)^[31]
• 26 April  - Kauko Juhantalo, Centre Party politician (b. 1942)^[32]

May

See main article: Deaths in May 2020.

• 8 May  - Ritva Valkama, actress (b. 1932)^[33]
• 9 May
  • Timo Honkela, computer scientist (b. 1962)^[34]
  • Kari Karanko, diplomat (b. 1941)^[35]
• 26 May
  • Johanna Ehrnrooth, painter (b. 1958)^[36]
  • Jon Hellevig, lawyer and businessman (b. 1962)^[37]

June

See main article: Deaths in June 2020.

• 3 June  - Veli Lehtelä, rower, Olympic bronze medalist (b. 1935)
• 24 June  - Gösta Ågren, poet (b. 1936)^[38]
• 27 June  - Arja Tuomarila, singer and continuity announcer (b. 1941)^[39]

July

See main article: Deaths in July 2020.

• 12 July  - Jarno Sarkula, musician (Alamaailman Vasarat) (b. 1973)^[40]
• 18 July  - Jope Ruonansuu, actor, musician and stand-up comedian (b. 1964)^[41]
• 20 July  - Mirja Jämes, 95, Finnish Olympic hurdler (1948).^[42]

August

See main article: Deaths in August 2020.

• 14 August  - Kalevi Oikarainen, 84, Finnish cross-country skier, world champion (1970), Olympic bronze medalist (1968).^[43]
• 25 August  - Erik Allardt, 95, Finnish sociologist, Chancellor of Åbo Akademi University (1992–1994).^[44]
• 28 August  - Jan Klenberg, admiral, Chief of Defence 1990–1994 (b. 1931)^[45]

September

See main article: Deaths in September 2020.

• 8 September  - Vexi Salmi, lyricist (b. 1942)^[46]

October

See main article: Deaths in October 2020.

• 16 October  - Marjatta Väänänen, politician, Minister of Culture 1972–1975, Education 1976–1977 and Social Affairs and Health 1982–1983 (b. 1923)^[47]

November

See main article: Deaths in November 2020.

• 1 November  - Tuomas Gerdt, military officer, last surviving Mannerheim Cross recipient (b. 1922)^[48]
• 3 November  - Matti Laakso, Olympic wrestler (b. 1939)^[49]
• 5 November  - Ossi Runne, trumpeter, orchestra leader and composer (b. 1927)^[50]
• 6 November  - Sakari Paasonen, Olympic shooter (b. 1935)^[51]
• 14 November  - Osmo Ala-Honkola, Olympic shooter (b. 1939)^[52]
• 20 November  - Hannu Lahtinen, Olympic wrestler (b. 1960)^[53]
• 25 November  - Paul Nyman, Olympic racing cyclist (b. 1929)^[54]

December

See main article: Deaths in December 2020.

• 11 December  - Richard Tötterman, diplomat (b. 1926)^[55]
• 14 December  - Seppo Vainio, Olympic ice hockey player (b. 1937)^[56]
• 28 December  - Jyrki Heliskoski, football coach (b. 1945)^[57]
• 31 December  - Olli Lehto, mathematician (b. 1925)^[58]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Finland issues China travel advisory over coronavirus concerns . Yle News . 30 January 2020 . 27 January 2020.
2. Web site: Finnair suspends five weekly routes to China due to coronavirus . Yle News . 30 January 2020 . 28 January 2020.
3. News: Nuori kiinalaisturisti eristetty Lapin keskussairaalassa koronavirusepäilyn vuoksi. 28 January 2020.
4. News: Kiinalainen matkailija tuotu eristykseen Lapin keskussairaalaan koronavirusepäilyn vuoksi. 28 January 2020.
5. News: Suomen ensimmäinen koronavirustartunta varmistui. 29 January 2020.
6. News: Finland's first coronavirus case confirmed in Lapland. 29 January 2020.
7. Web site: Up to 24 people in Finland possibly exposed to coronavirus symptom-free . Yle News . 8 February 2020 . 30 January 2020.
8. Web site: Finland's first coronavirus patient released from hospital symptom-free . Yle News . 8 February 2020 . 5 February 2020.
9. Web site: Woman in Helsinki Tests Positive for Novel Coronavirus. Yle News. 26 February 2020. 26 February 2020.
10. Web site: New coronavirus infection confirmed in Helsinki. Yle Uutiset. 28 February 2020 .
11. Web site: New coronavirus infection confirmed in Helsinki. Yle Uutiset. 28 February 2020 . en. 2020-02-28.
12. https://liiga.fi/fi/uutiset/2020/03/13/liiga-kausi-paattyy-valittomasti-suomen-mestaruus-jaa-jakamatta Liiga-kausi päättyy välittömästi – Suomen mestaruus jää jakamatta
13. Web site: Prime Minister Sanna Marin weds long-term partner. Yle Uutiset. 2 August 2020 . en. 2020-08-03.
14. Web site: Vastaamo-tietomurrosta epäilty Julius Kivimäki kyykytti USA:n ilmavoimia ja esiintyi peliyhtiön johtajana – hovioikeus alensi tuomiota . 30 November 2022 . IS.fi . 2 January 2024 .
15. News: 'Shocking' hack of psychotherapy records in Finland affects thousands . The Guardian . 26 October 2020 . 14 December 2020.
16. Web site: "Onko herra Ransom mokannut?" Näin Vastaamon kiristäjä ilmestyi Tor-verkon foorumille, sai hakkerit peräänsä ja häipyi lähes tyhjin käsin . 31 October 2020 . Yle.fi . 14 December 2020 .
17. Web site: 16-year-old boy beaten to death by three of the same age in Helsinki . Foreigner . 9 December 2020 . 7 March 2021 .
18. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/12268 Reijo Kuistila
19. https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000006383825.html Suomalaisen urheiluvalmennuksen legenda Kalevi Tuominen on kuollut
20. News: Kirjailija, ohjaaja Jörn Donner on kuollut . Helsingin Sanomat . 30 January 2020 . fi . 30 January 2020.
21. https://www.vasabladet.fi/Artikel/Visa/354195 En guldgosse har gått bort – Stig-Göran Myntti har avlidit
22. https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000006436260.html Valokuvataiteilija Susanna Majuri on kuollut
23. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/46651 Karri Käyhkö
24. https://etusuora.com/uutiset/aarne-kainlauri-on-kuollut Suru-uutinen: 104-vuotias olympiajuoksija Aarne Kainlauri on kuollut
25. https://www.iltalehti.fi/koripallo/a/652d0a7f-7612-4134-bf90-f0e8744e10a5 Olympialaisissa Suomea edustanut Juha Harjula on kuollut
26. https://www.sls.fi/sv/nyheter/max-engman-memoriam Max Engman in memoriam
27. News: Emeritusprofessori Olavi Borg on kuollut . Tampereen Korkeakouluyhteisö . 20 April 2020 . fi . 27 March 2020.
28. http://www.wirenewsfax.com/politician-pertti-paasio-is-dead Politician Pertti Paasio is dead
29. News: Luonnonsuojelija Pentti Linkola on kuollut . yle.fi . 29 April 2020 . fi . 5 April 2020.
30. https://www.aamulehti.fi/a/4a3a258c-cac5-43d8-af96-256fcd8774f6 Tampereen yliopiston matematiikan professori Mikko Kaasalainen on kuollut
31. https://www.ampumaurheiluliitto.fi/2020/04/16/vesa-tornroos-on-poissa/ Vesa Törnroos on poissa
32. News: Entinen kansanedustaja Kauko Juhantalo on kuollut . yle.fi . 26 April 2020 . fi . 26 April 2020.
33. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11343860 Näyttelijä Ritva Valkama on kuollut
34. https://www.keskipohjanmaa.fi/uutinen/594519 Kalajoelta lähtöisin ollut emeritusprofessori, tekoälytutkija Timo Honkela (1962-2020) on kuollut
35. https://www.hs.fi/muistot/art-2000006523541.html Kari Karanko 1941–2020
36. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11371386 Kuvataiteilija Johanna Ehrnrooth on kuollut
37. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006534551.html Lehti: Karita Mattilan uhkailusta tuomittu lakimies Jon Hellevig on kuollut Moskovassa
38. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/gosta-agren-ar-dod/ Gösta Ågren är död
39. https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000006562971.html Televisiokuuluttaja Arja Tuomarila on kuollut
40. https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000006573379.html Alamaailman Vasarat -yhtyeen perustaja Jarno ”Stakula” Sarkula on kuollut
41. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11423890 Taiteilija Jope Ruonansuu on kuollut
42. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/67489 Mirja Jämes
43. https://www.is.fi/maastohiihto/art-2000006607138.html Hiihdon maailmanmestari Kalevi ”Susi-Kalle” Oikarainen on kuollut
44. https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000006614096.html Kansainvälisesti tunnettu suomalainen sosiologi Erik Allardt on kuollut 95-vuotiaana
45. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006621350.html Puolustusvoimain entinen komentaja, amiraali Jan Klenberg on kuollut
46. https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2020/09/08/folkkara-sangtextforfattaren-vexi-salmi-ar-dod Folkkära sångtextförfattaren Vexi Salmi är död
47. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11600817 Keskustavaikuttaja, ministeri Marjatta Väänänen on kuollut – Seppo Kääriäinen: "Hän oli arvostettu poliitiikko ja taitava kirjoittaja"
48. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006707626.html Viimeinen Mannerheim-ristin ritari Tuomas Gerdt on kuollut
49. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/57916 Matti Laakso
50. https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2020/11/06/musikens-grand-old-man-ossi-runne-ar-dod Musikens "grand old man" Ossi Runne är död
51. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/42027 Sakari Paasonen
52. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/41952 Osmo Ala-Honkola
53. https://www.iltalehti.fi/muutlajit/a/5dc5b777-58ca-447f-a356-45a5587a73af Suru-uutinen: Painin maailmanmestari Hannu Lahtinen, 60, on kuollut
54. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/15914 Paul Nyman
55. https://hs.mediadelivery.fi/img/658/93b338b901c544f8aa0ec36fe962b025.png Richard Tötterman's death notice on Helsingin Sanomat
56. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/98512 Seppo Vainio
57. https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-11717997 Jalkapallovalmentaja Jyrki Heliskoski on kuollut
58. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11722712 Akateemikko Olli Lehto on kuollut – hän tuli tunnetuksi erityisesti matemaattisten tieteiden edistäjänä