The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health announced the easing of Covid restrictions throughout Finland.
Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru announced the easing of Covid restrictions
Image: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva
Finland is set to ease Covid restrictions on gatherings and events following criticism of rules governing sports and cultural events.
In regions currently in the community transmission phase, it will be possible to organise outdoor events for up to 50 people using safety precautions and social distancing arrangements. For indoor events the number of participants will still be limited to ten, but the possibility of easing these restrictions will be reevaluated in early June.
Restaurant restrictions gradually easing
Restrictions on restaurants and bars may be eased as early as Friday, but a closer watch is being kept on some regions.
The government will be discussing the easing of restrictions, especially for the open-air terraces.
Image: Jorge Gonzalez / Yle
A full, six-week shutdown of restaurants ended in the areas worst affected by the coronavirus epidemic ended a couple of weeks ago.
According to Yle sources, decisions will be made this week to gradually ease restrictions the now in force.
How soon this will happen, and what restrictions are to be lifted, will be discussed by the cabinet on Wednesday. Preparations are in the hands of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
The so-called India Covid variant, B.1.617, has been detected in three positive Covid samples in Finland.
All tests found with the variant are from March, according to officials at a press conference by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday morning.
Every fifth positive Covid sample in Finland is now a variant. The UK variant is the most frequently detected, followed by that first found in South Africa. Only about 20 percent of positive test results are sequenced to determine their exact type.
It is not yet known if the India variant is more infectious or resistant to vaccines, said THL senior physician
Some experts believe that new government-imposed restrictions may cut coronavirus infections by half.
Bars and restaurants in regions considered to be in the accelerating or community transmission phase of the epidemic will close from Tuesday.
Image: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
Partial shutdown measures introduced in Finland for the month of March, such as remote learning, restrictions on leisure activities and the closure of restaurants, are intended to curb the coronavirus epidemic. The daily Helsingin Sanomat asks how great an impact these measures are expected to have.
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health director
Pasi Pohjola told HS that no specific, official target has been defined.