Restrictions on bar, restaurant continue until 31 Dec

The government has decided to continue the restrictions on restaurants and bars until December 31 against the backdrop of the coronavirus situation, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release on Monday.

The government on Monday has extended the validity of the decree in this regard until the year end and also decided to impose restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the North Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa and Kanta-Häme and in the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja regions.

The degree entered into force on Monday and restrictions on the new regions will be introduced on 17 November.

In addition to the new regions, restrictions will be continued in all regions marked as community transmission areas earlier.

The regions are Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Päijät-Häme, Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso.

Food and beverage service businesses in the community transmission areas may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.

Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have only half the normal number of customer seats in use in their indoor and outdoor premises. Other food and beverage service are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats indoors.

All customers must have their own seats at a table or similar in indoor premises.

Businesses who require all customers to present a COVID-19 passport are exempt from the restrictions.

Meanwhile, there are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.

The restrictions laid down in the decree, however, 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.