Bar, restaurant in South Savo, North Karelia added to restriction list

The government has introduced restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in two more regions-South Savo and North Karelia- against the worsening coronavirus situation in the areas, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release on Thursday.

The government amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic, which entered into force on Friday.

The restrictions for community transmission areas apply to the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Kymenlaakso, South Karelia, North Karelia, Central Finland, Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Lapland, South Savo and North Savo.

Serving of alcoholic beverages in all food and beverage service businesses will end at 17.00. The premises may be open to food and beverage service customers from 5.00 to 18.00.

The restriction will also apply to restaurants that do not serve alcoholic beverages (e.g. cafes and fast food restaurants).

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

The restrictions laid down in the decree 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.