Helsinki to monitor compliance with Covid-19 restrictions

The City of Helsinki Environmental Services will start inspections and monitoring activities connected to the changes made to the Communicable Diseases Act on 8 March.

The requirements related to the prevention of the spread of coronavirus have a wide-spread impact on private and public operators and the use of private and public spaces, said a press release.

The Regional State Administrative Agency remains in charge of monitoring restaurants in accordance with the Communicable Diseases Act.

Inspections will start from open premises, such as grocery stores, shopping malls, and sports facilities.

Going forward, inspections will also be carried out in other open premises where people gather.

Environmental and food inspectors will inspect hygiene practices and adherence to instructions concerning safe distancing in connection with normal monitoring activities.

In addition to this, inspections will also be carried out based on an epidemiological assessment and upon a request made by the Regional State Administrative Agency.

According to the new order, all business premises must provide customers with the opportunity to clean their hands either by washing or using hand sanitizer, display sufficient hygiene instructions at positions readable for the customers seated as per safe distancing diktat or, otherwise, arrange sufficiently spacious customer areas so that safe distances may be observed normally.