Govt shortens business hours of restaurants, bars in Uusimaa
Published : 24 Nov 2020, 22:49
Updated : 25 Nov 2020, 10:53
The government on Tuesday imposed stricter restrictions on the opening and closing hours of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses in the region of Uusimaa (Helsinki and its adjoining areas) in the wake of increasing number of coronavirus infections.
The decision of imposing ban on catering services after 10:00 PM and enforcing restaurants to close doors by 11:00 PM will enter into force on 26 November midnight, said an official press release.
The opening time for restaurants will be 5:00 AM at the earliest.
The number of customer seats in restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages will continue to be restricted to half the normal total. Restaurants serving food would be allowed to seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers.
Meanwhile, the restrictions on food and beverage service businesses operating in Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Ostrobothnia will remain unchanged as from 26 November.
All food and beverage service businesses in these regions will be allowed to serve alcohol between 7:00 and 22:00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may be open between 23:00 and 24:00 and will be allowed to seat half of their normal number of customers.
Other restaurants may be open between 24:00 and 01.00 and will be allowed to seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers.
The number of customer seats will not be limited in regions where the epidemic is at a stable level.
All food and beverage service businesses will be allowed to serve alcohol between 7:00 and 24.00. Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may be open between 1:00 and 2:00. The opening hours of other restaurants will not be restricted.
The restrictions will remain in force only for as long as it is necessary, but no longer than until 15 December 2020.