Cultural centres, indoor sports in Helsinki closed for 3 weeks

The City of Helsinki on Friday decided to close down cultural centres, museums, youth facilities, and indoor sports temporarily for three weeks effective from 30 November in the wake of increasing trend of coronavirus infection.

The Helsinki Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group made the recommendations on Thursday to curb the spread of the epidemic, said the City of Helsinki in a press release.

Almost all premises of the cultural and leisure services for the clients will remain closed in the municipalities of the Metropolitan Area and only libraries will remain open, and even they are subject to restrictions.

For the services of the City of Helsinki’s Culture and Leisure Division, the decision of the coronavirus coordination group means that cultural centres, indoor sports facilities, museums, and youth centres will be closed.

Private operators are encouraged by the coronavirus coordination group to comply with the same restrictions.

All public events to be arranged in cultural centres, libraries, museums, and sports and youth facilities have been cancelled for the restriction period. The cancellation concerns all performances, concerts, events, and other public events, both indoors and outdoors.

The intention is that performances cancelled at the cultural centres (Annantalo, Caisa, Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Maunula House, Savoy Theatre, Stoa, and Vuosaari House) should mainly be arranged later.

The concerts of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra will be broadcast online through HKO Screen. Tickets already purchased can also be refunded, according to the terms and conditions of the ticket vendor.

The validity of the Sports Services’ season passes will be extended by three weeks, and advance tickets for Yrjönkatu swimming hall will be refunded. Fees for supervised sports and swimming schools will not be refunded, added the press release.