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Restaurants closed to customers, ordering takeaway permitted

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Publication date 24.3.2020 20.12 | Published in English on 25.3.2020 at 9.47
Press release

Finland is currently in a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, and in order to prevent the spread of the virus, restaurants, cafés and licensed premises will be closed to customers as soon as possible. On 24 March 2020, the Government submitted a government proposal on the matter to Parliament, which will bring the matter into discussion immediately. The purpose of these actions is to protect the population and to safeguard the functioning of society. These restrictions will remain in force until 31 May 2020.

However, meals may be sold to customers for takeaway. Customers themselves or a food courier are allowed to pick up prepared meals from the restaurant, or the restaurant can deliver meals directly to customers.

The order to close restaurants to customers does not apply to restaurants that are not open to the public, such as personnel canteens or student canteens in educational institutions.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will provide more information about the closure of restaurants to businesses and citizens as soon as possible.

Support for businesses is available

Entrepreneurs facing financial difficulties are advised to first contact their own bank and other financing providers. Due to the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus, banks are prepared to discuss arrangements such as loan repayment holidays and repayment rescheduling. Actions taken by the central government make banks better equipped to provide financing to companies.

Companies can apply for support from Business Finland, which made two new financial services available on 19 March 2020 to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic. These services are intended for SMEs and midcaps operating in Finland whose business is suffering from the coronavirus situation.

Financial services are intended for tourism and auxiliary tourism services, but also for creative and performing industries and all sectors where subcontracting chains are affected. The funding is intended for companies to explore and tap into new business opportunities in emergency conditions.

In addition, ELY Centres are prepared to support restaurant entrepreneurs in financial distress caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The ELY Centres’ business development projects are therefore targeted especially at helping SMEs in the service sector to prevent and control the effects of the coronavirus.

The Talousapu financial assistance service offers advice to companies facing financial and payment difficulties. The telephone number of the service is +358 2950 24880 (weekdays 9.00–16.00).

Inquiries:

Liisa Huhtala, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7062

Antti Neimala, Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7039

Arabic: تُغلق المطاعم للزبائن، لكن يمكن طلب الطعام واستلامه
Dari: رستوران ھا بھ روی مشتریان بستھ می شوند، با این حال می توان غذا را سفارش داد و تحویل گرفت
Hindi: ग्राहकों के लिए रेस्तराां बांद ककए गए, टेकअवे ऑर्डर की इजाज़त है
Chinese: 餐馆停止店面营业,但可以提供外卖
Les restaurants vont fermer, mais les clients auront toutefois la possibilité de commander et de venir chercher leurs repas
Sorani: خواردنخان هکان ب ه مشت هر ی هکان دادهخرێن، ب هڵام د هک رێت خواردن داوا بکر ێت و ببن رێ ت
Thai: รา้ นอาหารจะปิดใหบ้ รกิ ารแก่ลูกคา้ แต่จะยงั สามารถสงั่ ซื้ออาหารและไปรบั อาหารได้
Restoranlar kapılarını müşterilere kapatacaklardır, bununla birlikte, yemek siparişi verilebilecek ve dışarıdan yemek satın alınabilecektir
РЕСТОРАНЫ БУДУТ ЗАКРЫТЫ ДЛЯ ПОСЕТИТЕЛЕЙ, НО ЕДУ МОЖНО БУДЕТ ЗАКАЗЫВАТЬ И ЗАБИРАТЬ
Các nhà hàng đóng cửa với khách đến ăn, tuy nhiên có thể đặt thức ăn và đến lấy
Restoranid suletakse klientidelt, toitu võib siiski tellida ja kaasamüük on lubatud