Changes to restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of South Karelia, Kanta-Häme and Central Ostrobothnia from 21 May
The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions on opening and licensing hours will be tightened in the regions of Kanta-Häme and Central Ostrobothnia because of the worsened epidemiological situation in these regions. In the region of South Karelia, however, the situation has improved so the restrictions on opening and licensing hours will be eased.
No changes will be made to the restrictions on the number of customer seats. The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 21 May at 00.00.
The restrictions in place in other areas will remain unchanged.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas that are at a stable level in the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savo, Ostrobothnia and Satakunta and the Hospital District of Lapland from 21 May
Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open to customers between 5.00 and 1.00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments. The restrictions on the number of customer seats do not apply in Åland.
The restaurants located in these areas must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited in indoor premises.
On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas that are in the acceleration phase in the regions of South Karelia, Kymenlaakso and Pirkanmaa and the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja from 21 May
Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 22.00 and be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments.
In these areas, restaurants must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited in indoor premises.
On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas that are in the community transmission phase in the regions of Päijät-Häme, Southwest Finland, Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme and Central Ostrobothnia from 21 May
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may serve alcohol between 7.00 and 18.00. They may be open between 5.00 and 19.00. They may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises.
Other restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 19.00 and be open between 5.00 and 20.00. They may have in use 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats in indoor premises.
In these areas, restaurants must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited.
On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The above-mentioned customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.
Exceptions to restrictions remain unchanged
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.
Inquiries:
Ismo Tuominen, Senior Ministerial Adviser [email protected]
- Government decree amending the government decree on temporarily restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses to prevent the spread of a communicable disease, 20 May 2021 (PDF, available in Finnish and Swedish)
- Memorandum 20 May 2021 (PDF, in Finnish)
- Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses