Stricter restrictions on restaurants proposed in metropolitan area

The Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group proposes to the government to extend the restrictions on the restaurants and bars beyond 15 November 2021, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Tuesday.

The opening hours of restaurants should also be more restricted and serving alcohol should be stopped earlier than at present, proposed the group.

With the forthcoming festive season in mind, the restrictions on restaurants serving food should also be extended by reducing the maximum number of seats allowed and narrowing the opening hours.

The need for hospital care in the Metropolitan Area has increased as well as the burden on specialist care.

The Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group assessed that the fluctuating nature of the epidemic, the slowing of the increase in vaccination coverage and the threat of a higher increase in hospital burden call for new targeted and effective containment measures to mitigate the epidemic.

In principle, restrictions on the restaurant industry should remain in place over the Christmas season in order to influence the waves of the epidemic and not be lifted in the middle of the festive season.

Restaurants have the possibility to waive the restrictions by requiring the COVID-19 passport from its customers.

The Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group encourages restaurants to make full use of the COVID-19 passport within the existing restrictions.

The group also emphasised the need to wear a face mask, especially for unvaccinated persons in all indoor public spaces and for the general population in public transport and indoor spaces where there are many people close to each other.

The Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, and the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland established the Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group on 10 September 2020.

In line with a regional operating model devised by Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the group aims to strengthen the formation of a common situational assessment and to coordinate and prepare local and regional measures.

The City of Helsinki is responsible for organising the group’s operations.

In addition to the Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, the City of Kauniainen also follows the restrictions and recommendations of the coordination group.