Finnish municipalities begin to impose tough quarantine restrictions

Tough quarantine restrictions have been reintroduced in the Finnish regions, as was the case last spring. From next Monday until the end of October, municipalities within the Vaasa Health District will not be allowed to gather in groups of more than 10 people, regardless of whether they are indoor or outdoor.

the law on infectious diseases. Individual municipalities have the option to tighten these restrictions if necessary. Although the decision concerns only public events, the authorities recommend that citizens not gather more than ten people, even in private. Over the past two weeks, 166 cases of coronavirus infection have been detected in Vaasa Health District per 100,000 people, and in Vaasa City itself – 356 cases.

In other regions, they are still limited to recommendations. In Kanta-Häme, since October 12, it is advised not to hold private events with more than 20 people. A similar recommendation was issued in Helsinki: the city authorities advise against organizing family celebrations, private and corporate parties, including Christmas, for 20 or more people.

In six regions, where the statistics on infections again went up ( Uusimaa, Varsinais-Suomi, Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme, Pohyanmaa and South Pohyanmaa), the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants should stop at 22:00, and the establishments themselves should close at 23:00. The government has decided that no more than half of the maximum number of customers can be in the premises of catering establishments at the same time. These restrictions take effect at midnight Friday through Saturday.