Closure of educational institutions extended to May 13

The government on Monday decided to extend the ongoing state of emergency until May 13 to slow down the spread of coronavirus infections.

Earlier, the government on March 16 declared a state of emergency in the country following the outbreak of coronavirus and decided to close down all the educational institutions till April 13.

A new decrees in this regard will be placed before the parliament on Tuesday, said an official press release.

The decision on the extension must be made this week so that it can be processed in Parliament in time.

The restrictions on early childhood education, teaching and education and training will be extended by one month until May 13 at different levels of education.

At the same time, preparations will be made for extending the exceptional arrangements in education until the end of term, if this is deemed necessary for containing the epidemic.

Due to the epidemic, the government also decided to swiftly begin preparing tighter limits to traffic at the national borders in the north and west, and to terminate the carriage of passengers in sea transport, with the exception of goods and freight transport.

The government also decided to further increase sampling and testing in Finland to identify cases of coronavirus and to curb the epidemic. Healthcare and social welfare personnel must always be tested if there is even the slightest suspicion of illness.

The government will also submit a decree to Parliament on Tuesday on the closure of restaurants, cafés and premises where alcohol is served.

The purpose of the closures is to protect the population and to safeguard the functioning of society. The restrictions on opening hours are effective until May 31, but takeaway food services are permitted.