Restaurants remain closed from Saturday to May 31

All the restaurants in the country remain closed from early Saturday ( After mid night of Friday) to May 31 as per a Government decree accepted by the parliament on April 2, said a press release issued by the parliament on Friday.

The temporary restriction was made to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Restaurants, however, are allowed to sell products to customers for consumption outside the premises.

The restriction does not concern cafeterias and canteens not open to public, for example in places of employment or in schools.

The Government first proposed a change to the current law, which the Parliament accepted on March 28 and the President ratified on March 30. The law was in effect the same day.

News agency Xinhua adds: According to the order by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, restaurants must remain closed from Saturday until the end of May. Takeaway sales will be allowed -- in a way that avoids contagion.

Closing of restaurants was not legally possible even under the Emergency Powers Act, which has been activated weeks ago in Finland. The move requires an additional law.

The parliament gave the authorization nearly a week ago, but the administrative process required a further decree and parliamentary clearance, which haven't been completed until Friday.

The Finnish government had urged restaurant owners to close voluntarily and switch to takeaway sales.

Large chains had closed their restaurants several weeks ago, but some small-sized restaurants remained open until the last hours on Friday.

As of Friday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Finland has reached 1,615 with 20 deaths, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.