Government submits proposal to lift the two-metre rule

The Government has submitted a proposal to Parliament on lifting the two-metre rule on safe distancing, among other matters. The Government proposes an amendment to the temporary section 58 d of the Communicable Diseases Act.

The section regulates the conditions for using premises intended for customers and event participants to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The exact definition of close contact would be removed, along with the incidence rate used as a criterion for its application. The two-metre rule and the 15-minute rule would be removed. The provisions on the conditions for using premises will remain in force until the end of this year.

The Government does not propose to change the rights and obligations of the authorities to make decisions affecting individuals or even large groups of people if the situation so requires. According to the proposal, a Regional State Administrative Agency or a municipality may make decisions on the conditions for using premises located in its area if there are significant disease clusters in the municipality or the hospital district, if contact tracing is no longer efficient, and if an expert assessment indicates that the cluster poses a significant risk of wide-scale spreading of new infections in the area. The section could be applied if experts assess that the epidemiological situation is significantly deteriorating.

The amendment is expected to enter into force as soon as possible.

Inquiries:

Taneli Puumalainen, Director General, [email protected]
Maija Neva, Lawyer, [email protected]