Controversy raises over PM´s acts after COVID exposure info

Controversy raised among the people over the activities of Prime Minister Sanna Marin during the weekend following a miscommunication regarding her coronavirus exposure.

The PM visited nightclub, shopping centres and restaurants on Saturday as she received information that she needs not to avoid close contacts with others after Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

The PM was given instructions initially that the potential exposure did not require quarantine or any other special measures, as members of the cabinet had received two vaccinations.

But the Director of government Security has instructed cabinet members and certain public officials to avoid contacts as a precautionary measure.

The PM, however, missed the messages from the Director of government Security as the official phone was not available with her during the holiday activities.

Marin, however, regretted for her activities occurred following the miscommunication.

In her facebook post on Saturday she described detail about the situation and apologized for the unwanted situation.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Chancellor of Justice received two complaints from members of the public over the failure to properly inform Marin that she had been exposed to the coronavirus, reported national broadcaster Yle.

One of the complaints relates to the fact that Marin did not have official phone with her in the nightclub, and therefore missed the SMS messages sent by the security director regarding precautionary measures after the Foreign Minister tested coronavirus positive and another complaint regarding the failure of the Prime Minister's Office to properly inform Marin about her exposure to the virus.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 test taken by Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Monday has come back negative. The Prime Minister returned to the office on Tuesday normally, said an official press release.