Stricter restrictions on restaurants, bars begin

The government on Tuesday amended the decree regarding the restrictions on the food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic with the provision for mandatory closure of all restaurants and bars at 18.00.

In addition, the restrictions on the use of the COVID-19 passport will be extended until the end of January, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.

The decree on the opening hours of food and beverage service businesses entered into force on 12 January at 00.00 and it will remain in force until 31 January.

The decree restricting the use of the COVID-19 passport also entered into force on 12 January and until 31 January, COVID-19 passport cannot be used as an alternative to restrictions

Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in community transmission area.

The community transmission areas are Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Kainuu, Kymenlaakso, South Karelia, North Karelia, Central Finland, Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Lapland, South Savo, North Savo and Åland.

Serving of alcoholic beverages in all food and beverage service businesses will end at 17.00. Such businesses may keep their premises open to food and beverage service customers between 5.00 and 18.00. The restriction will also apply to businesses 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 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, 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.