Minister sets 3 months as tolerable limit to end coronavirus restrictions

Finance Minister Katri Kulmuni gave on Sunday "well over three months" as a tolerable limit where after the restoration of economic life will be very difficult, in the wake of the current restrictions applied to combat COVID-19, reported news agency Xinhua.

Talking to a Finnish language newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, Kulmuni said that "Finland will manage" if the country is able to keep the wheels of industry going.

The minister added that a massive increase in testing of COVID-19 could indicate when the easing of restrictions could begin.

Elina Pylkkänen, director of the Labour Institute for Economic Research, pointed out that the dismantling of the current restrictions will also require courage.

She said on national broadcaster Yle that she is mostly concerned about the timing. "It takes more courage to give up the restrictions on movement and social distancing than it took to introduce them," she said, adding that giving up the protective measures would require some confidence against the vista of the coronavirus starting to spread again.

As of Sunday afternoon, Finland has confirmed 1,927 COVID-19 infections, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

Since the outbreak in late February, the government has carried out a series of restrictive measures to curb the spread of the disease, including closing borders, shutting down schools and other educational institutes, limiting public gatherings to ten people, and encouraging remote working.

Meanwhile, economic support measures by the government so far amount to some 16 billion euros, including both direct aid, guarantees to loans and temporary easing of employer duties and increases in benefits. Local media has noted the ultimate amount of loans required is yet uncertain.

The government will be holding consultations in coming days about the future economic framework.