14:25, 01.03.21 World 263
The decision comes as new variants contribute to a sharp rise in infections in the country, which has already closed its borders.
REUTERS
The Finnish government declared a state of emergency on Monday due to rising COVID-19 infections, a step that would allow the Nordic country to shutter restaurants and to impose other measures to blunt the pandemic.
The decision comes as new variants contribute to a sharp rise in infections in the country, which has already closed its borders. The state of emergency would also allow the government to further shut schools and limit movement between regions, Reuters reported.
Finland s largest circulation daily, Helsingin Sanomat, is among the papers reporting that Prime Minister
Sanna Marin (SDP) told the media on Wednesday evening that the government will not, at least yet, be seeking to re-activate the Emergency Powers Act to deal with the resurgence of the coronavirus in the country.
However, she did announce that all parliamentary parties are being invited to take part in a discussion on the situation this coming Monday.
It is the government s view that the conditions required to activate emergency powers have not yet been met. The prime minister pointed out, however, that expert opinion is that the situation could change quickly.