Stricter restrictions on restaurants, bars come into force today

The government imposed stricter restrictions on restaurants and bars in four more regions in the backdrop of increasing number of coronavirus infections effecting from Saturday, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Starting from 5 December, restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, Kymenlaakso and North Ostrobothnia, which are in the community transmission phase, will be subject to the same restrictions as those already in force in Uusimaa, according to a decision of the government taken on Thursday.

Restrictions will also be tightened in areas entering the acceleration phase.

The restrictions will remain in force until 15 December 2020, after which provisions on the restrictions will be laid down in a new decree.

Food and beverage service businesses in Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, Kymenlaakso and North Ostrobothnia may stay open until 23.00, and they may, after closing, reopen their doors at 5.00 at the earliest.

The restrictions on opening hours will not apply to food and beverage service businesses operating in connection with service stations.

All food and beverage service businesses in these regions must stop serving alcohol by 22.00. The number of customer seats in restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages will be restricted to half the normal total. Restaurants serving food will be allowed to seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers.

The regions of Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, South Karelia, Central Finland, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia and Kainuu are in the acceleration phase.

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 24 and 23, and they will be allowed to seat half of their normal number of customers. Other restaurants may be open between 1.00 and 24.00 and seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers.

In the regions of North Savo, South Savo, North Karelia, Lapland and Åland, there are still no restrictions on the number of customers. 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 2.00 and 1.00. The opening hours of other restaurants will not be restricted.