Restrictions during the coronavirus epidemic

The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is by avoiding contact with others. Avoid unnecessary meetings even if you are healthy.
 
If you meet with other people

• keep a safe distance of at least two metres,
• don’t shake hands.

Maintain good hygiene

• Wash your hands often with water and soap. Make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth unless you have just washed your hands.
• Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hand.

Wear a mask while you are in places with other people.

• Masks prevent droplets from spreading. When you wear a mask, you help protect others from infection. 
• Wearing a mask is recommended even if you have already had COVID-19. 

(link to THL's mask recommendations and hygiene guidelines)

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• Recommendation on the use of face masks for citizens – thl.fi
• Transmission and protection – coronavirus – thl.fi

Don’t meet people outside your household unless absolutely necessary. Follow the hygiene guidelines and keep your distance.

The authorities in your area may introduce regional restrictions on events, business and leisure activities when this is necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The restrictions may apply to the use of premises or the number of participants in activities, for example.

The guidelines on good hygiene and safe distances are in force throughout the country. Event organisers are responsible for ensuring compliance with the guidelines in practice.

Restrictions at the different phases of the epidemic

Stable level

General hygiene measures customer premises and places of assembly.

Acceleration phase

The authorities may decide that activities in various spaces must be arranged so that no close contacts occur. This also applies to leisure activities.

Community transmission phase

• The authorities may decide to close private commercial premises to customers, such as gyms, indoor playgrounds, swimming pools and dance halls. These premises are defined in more detail in the Communicable Diseases Act. They may be closed for two weeks at a time.
• If necessary, municipalities may close their own facilities, such as public swimming pools, health centres or libraries, for a longer period of time.
• Public gatherings with more than six people are not allowed.
• Private events with more than six people should also be avoided.

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• Guidelines for public events, meetings and the use of public premises (in Finnish)
• Restrictions on gatherings currently in force and entering into force in November (available in Finnish and Swedish ) – avi.fi 
• Recommendation on the use of face masks for citizens – thl.fi
• Questions and answers: Events and meetings
• Amendments to Communicable Diseases Act approved — regional authorities to have more means to curb COVID-19 (press release 19 February 2021)

You can continue many leisure activities alone or with your family. However, group hobbies are currently restricted due to the epidemic situation.

Leisure activities for children and young people

The guiding principle is that group leisure activities for children under 12 years of age should not be restricted. The guidelines on organising leisure activities for children and young people (in Finnish) primarily apply to indoor group hobbies for 12–18-year-olds: 

• The group must always meet in the same composition and a list of attendees must be collected for each session. Competitions, recitals and any other form of activities where groups come into contact with one another must not be organised.
• Parents or other outsiders are not allowed to spend time in the leisure activity space or in the changing rooms. Groups must be led by the same teachers, instructors and coaches at each session. 
• All forms of leisure activities must be arranged in a way that prevents close contact between participants, meaning that games and practice matches, for instance, must not be organised. A safe distance of two metres must be maintained between participants in group activities. 
• Participants must be instructed to comply with the guidelines on good hygiene and on what to do if they experience symptoms. Teachers, instructors and coaches must always wear a mask. 
• Hobbies may not be organised in groups of more than 10 persons. However, there may be several groups of 10 people in large spaces at the same time if there is no contact between the groups.  

Indoor activities for 12–18-year-olds should only be discontinued if they cannot be arranged in a way that complies with all of the guidelines for safe hobbies. 

The Government recommends following the guidelines in areas where the epidemic is in the community transmission phase. If the epidemic situation deteriorates, the guidelines will also apply to leisure activities for children under 12 years of age.

Leisure activities for adults 

In areas that are in the community transmission phase, adult group activities should be temporarily suspended altogether.

See also: Events, gatherings and meetings

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• Reducing the coronavirus risk in sport, physical exercise, and other recreational activities – thl.fi
• Guidance on group leisure activities for children and young people (in Finnish)
• Amendments to Communicable Diseases Act approved – regional authorities to have more means to curb COVID-19 (press release 19 February 2021)

In contact teaching and early childhood education and care, the goal is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections by following the guidelines issued by the authorities.

The recommendations will aim to help local actors figure out the best ways to arrange teaching and early childhood education and care in a safe and well-functioning manner. The regional restrictions and recommendations in place depend on the phase of the epidemic in the region in question. The best way to find out about education arrangements is by contacting the education provider, most commonly the municipality.

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• Recommendation from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture to providers of education and early childhood education and care during the COVID-19 epidemic (in Finnish)
• Recommendation from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture to educational institutions and higher education institutions on the prevention of infections during the COVID-19 epidemic (in Finnish)
• Questions and answers: Early childhood education and care
• Questions and answers: Primary and lower secondary education
• Questions and answers: General upper secondary and vocational education and training
• Questions and answers: Higher education
• Regional State Administrative Agencies’ answers to frequently asked questions about early childhood education and care (in Finnish)
• Regional State Administrative Agencies’ answers to questions about primary, lower secondary and other education and educational institutions (in Finnish)

Work remotely if you can.

The authorities recommend working remotely to the extent possible in both the public and private sectors. Remote work reduces physical contacts at the workplace and is likely to reduce the number of infections spread while commuting by public transport, for example. The recommendation to work remotely is in effect throughout Finland until further notice.

Employers should promote arrangements that reduce close contacts and other risk factors.  

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• Guidelines for remote work – ttl.fi

All restaurants may be open as of 19 April 2021. Restrictions on opening hours and customer numbers will continue to be in place as required by epidemiological situation in the area, and customers in restaurants should be guided to their seats. The situation will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Restrictions for restaurants by region

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• Questions and answers about restaurant closures – tem.fi
• Regional State Administrative Agencies’ answers to frequently asked questions about business in the food and beverage service sector (in Finnish)

Avoid unnecessary travel to countries other than those for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted.

The COVID-19 epidemic is still clearly growing globally, and the number of infections is increasing in most countries. The current restrictions on entry into the country will be in effect until 25 May 2021.

Entry restrictions and health measures in place in Finland

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• Travel and the coronavirus – thl.fi
• Q&A about the effects of COVID-19 on border traffic – raja.fi
• Re-open EU online service