The purpose of the restrictions and recommendations in force during the coronavirus epidemic is to slow down and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Finland, to safeguard the resource capacity and resilience of our healthcare system throughout the country, and to protect people, especially those who are the most at risk.

On 6 May, the Government adopted a resolution on a plan for a hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 crisis. The Government Resolution specifies the guidelines for continuing restrictive measures to curb the coronavirus epidemic, and the controlled and gradual dismantling of restrictive measures.

The Government Resolution guides the preparation of the authorities' official activities, on the basis of which further legislative and decision-making proposals will be prepared and further guidance given.

Government Resolution 6 May

On 14 May, contact teaching resumed for pupils in early childhood education and care and in primary and lower secondary education. Based on the current epidemiological assessment, it is now safe to return to school.

The instructions issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Institute for Health and Welfare must be followed in contact teaching.

The Government recommends that universities, universities of applied sciences, upper secondary schools, vocational schools, liberal adult education and basic adult education institutes continue distance learning until the end of the semester.

However, it is possible to return to contact teaching starting on 14 May if the users of the premises comply with the guidelines on safe distances and hygiene. In basic art education, too, the education providers themselves decide on the continuation of distance learning and on the transition to contact teaching.

Letter from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to the Regional State Administrative Agencies: guidelines on hygiene and physical distancing to be followed at the premises of educational institutions (press release from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 12 May 2020 with instructions for universities, universities of applied sciences, upper secondary education, vocational education, liberal education and adult education from the Ministry and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)

Public events and meetings with more than 10 persons in both indoor and outdoor spaces are prohibited until 31 May.

Public events and gatherings with a maximum of 50 persons will be permitted starting on 1 June until further notice. The 50-person limit also applies to events organised by the private and third sectors, such as cultural, recreational, sports and religious events. In indoor spaces and enclosed outdoor spaces, such as amusement parks, zoos, libraries and cinemas, safety will be ensured by limiting the number of visitors, ensuring safe distances and providing guidance on personal hygiene.

Public events with more than 500 people are prohibited until 31 July.

Municipal youth facilities and meeting rooms for clubs have been closed and activities and guidance that involve close contact between children and young people have been suspended. Contacts with young people should be maintained through remote arrangements.

Public youth facilities and club rooms will reopen on 1 June.

Regional State Administrative Agencies’ answers (in Finnish) to frequently asked questions about youth work

Outdoor sports facilities are open as of 14 May.

Starting on 1 June, swimming pools and other public indoor sports facilities will be opened and sports competitions and series can be resumed with special arrangements.

The restrictions on gatherings must still be observed.

Public events and meetings with more than 10 persons in both indoor and outdoor spaces are prohibited until 31 May.

Public events and gatherings with a maximum of 50 persons will be permitted starting on 1 June until further notice. The 50-person limit also applies to events organised by the private and third sectors, such as sports and recreation events. In indoor spaces and enclosed outdoor spaces, safety will be ensured by limiting the number of visitors, ensuring safe distances and providing guidance on personal hygiene.

Public events with more than 500 people are prohibited until 31 July.

Regional State Administrative Agencies’ answers (in Finnish) to frequently asked questions about sports facilities

Borrowing of books and other materials from libraries is permitted.

The following cultural services will reopen as of 1 June: national and municipal museums, theatres, the National Opera, cultural venues, libraries, mobile libraries, services for customers and researchers at the National Archives, hobby and leisure facilities, youth centres, clubs, organisations’ meeting rooms, rehabilitative work facilities and workshops.

The restrictions on gatherings must still be observed.

Public events and meetings with more than 10 persons in both indoor and outdoor spaces are prohibited until 31 May.

Public events and gatherings with a maximum of 50 persons will be permitted starting on 1 June until further notice. The 50-person limit also applies to events organised by the private and third sectors, such as cultural, recreational and religious events. In indoor spaces and enclosed outdoor spaces, such as amusement parks, zoos, libraries and cinemas, safety will be ensured by limiting the number of visitors, ensuring safe distances and providing guidance on personal hygiene.

Public events with more than 500 people are prohibited until 31 July.

For the time being, public-sector employers advise their employees to work remotely if their duties make it possible to do so. The recommendation will be reassessed after summer.

Both private and public employers in healthcare and social services, rescue services, emergency response centres and police services have the temporary right to deviate from certain provisions of the Annual Holidays Act, the Working Hours Act and the Employment Contracts Act.

If necessary, healthcare employees may be obliged to perform work.

Restaurants, cafes and licenced premises will remain closed until 31 May. Takeaway sales of food are permitted.

In line with the Government proposal submitted to Parliament on 19 May, food and beverage service businesses can reopen their doors to customers on 1 June with certain restrictions.

The amount of customer seating must be reduced by half, and arrangements must be made to ensure sufficient distance between customers
Each customer must have their own seat at a table or counter. Customers may pick up their food and beverages at the counter, but they will not be permitted to serve themselves for the time being.
Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 6.00 and 23.00 at maximum and may serve alcohol between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcoholic beverages purchased before 22.00 may be consumed until 23.00.
Indoor and outdoor premises must be arranged in such a way that customers will not be exposed to the spread of the disease.

Once the proposed act has been approved, the Government plans to issue a temporary decree.

As of 14 May, employment and commission-related work travel and other essential travel is permitted at the Schengen internal borders.

Every citizen of Finland always has the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave the country. Recreational travel abroad is not recommended for the time being.

It is recommended that persons arriving in the country self-isolate for a period of 14 days.

Foreign travellers in Finland are free to leave the country.

All non-essential travel, including leisure travel, must continue to be avoided within Finland as well.

Camping and hiking at nature sites and in forests is permitted while observing the instructions of the health authorities. It is advisable to choose nearby forests and less popular destinations for outdoor recreation.

Anyone aged over 70 years should continue to avoid physical contacts as far as possible. The Government emphasises that those in risk groups should use their own discretion in following the guidelines.

s a rule, visits to units providing 24-hour care and treatment are prohibited. Asymptomatic family members or close friends should, however, be allowed to visit seriously ill clients who are in a critical state and clients in hospice care, provided that safety precautions are taken.

Visits to care institutions, health care units and hospitals are prohibited, with the exception of asymptomatic family members of children and critically ill individuals, family members of those in hospice care and spouses or support persons in the maternity ward, who will be permitted to visit on a case-by-case basis. These restrictions are in force until further notice and the matter will next be assessed at the end of June.

If necessary, freedom of movement in social welfare units such as residential homes for older people, housing units for people with disabilities and foster care units related to child protection may be restricted.

Municipalities have been given a temporary right to deviate from the time limits for non-urgent healthcare and the assessment of the need for social welfare services.

The sale of medicines, goods and services used in healthcare services has been restricted.

Restrictions during the coronavirus epidemic

Early childhood education and care, teaching and education

Events, gatherings and meetings

Children and youth

Sports and physical activity

Cultural services

Work

Restaurants, cafés and licensed premises

Travel across the Finnish borders

Movement of people in Finland

People over 70 years of age and other risk groups

Healthcare and social welfare