Restrictions on dancing, karaoke eased across country

The authority decided to lift ban on dancing and karaoke in all regions of the country from Friday following the improvement of the coronavirus situation.

The government amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic on Thursday, which entered into force on Friday at 00.00, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.

From Friday, there is no area in the community transmission phase of the epidemic as a result, Päijät-Häme and Kanta-Häme will return to acceleration phase restrictions. Southwest Finland and Central Ostrobothnia will return to baseline restrictions.

Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses to be eased in Päijät-Häme, Kanta-Häme, Southwest Finland and Central Ostrobothnia.

This also means that the ban on dancing and karaoke will be lifted in all regions.

Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses are in baseline areas in the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Southwest Finland, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savo, Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, South Karelia, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso and Lapland from 18 June

Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 1.00 and be open to customers between 5.00 and 2.00.

Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments. As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors.

The restrictions on the number of customer seats, however, do not apply in Åland.

Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas in the acceleration phase in the regions of Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme and Kanta-Häme from 18 June

Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 22.00 and be open between 5.00 and 23.00.

Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments. As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors.

On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions do not apply to outdoor terraces.

Exceptions to restrictions laid down in the decree will remain unchanged.

The restrictions do not apply to the activities of staff restaurants or to takeaway sales of food to customers.

The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distribution stations for liquid fuels.