Mandatory mask use at Helsinki workplaces eases from Monday

The cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa are giving up the use of face masks in tasks where employees work with an established work community or have the opportunity to work in spacious work premises from Monday.

The facemask obligation for employees, however, will continue to apply to situations where customers are advised to wear a face mask or work is performed with members of risk groups, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Friday.

Unvaccinated employees must always wear a face mask when working indoors.

The cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa have prepared their face mask policy together.

The recommendations on the use of face masks for social and health care staff, visitors and teachers will continue until further notice.

The new recommendations for education will be confirmed once the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Agency for Education have issued a national recommendation.

The face mask obligation for employees applies to situations where customers are advised to use the mask (e.g., educational institutions, public events), work is performed with customers belonging to risk groups, based on a local hazard assessment, the use of a face mask is considered to be necessary.

The use of a face mask is always recommended for employees working indoors if they do not have full vaccination protection or have not suffered from coronavirus disease within the last six months.

The face mask recommendation applies to all employees, regardless of their vaccination protection, when the employee travels by public transport during the working day, the employee works indoors where it is difficult to avoid close contact and when working with casual employees or customers.

An employee does not have to wear a face mask when they have full vaccination protection or protection provided by a coronavirus illness and when the employee works with an established work community or clientele (e.g. early childhood education, office work), when an employee can maintain a sufficient distance from other employees and customers, even if it is not an established work community or clientele.

The employer will provide face masks to those employees and in those workplaces where the employer recommends or obliges the use of a face mask.