The government will soon impose new restrictions on the so-called. For nightclubs, and they could take effect this week, Yle has learned.
Ministers must hold an extraordinary government meeting to confirm the statute no later than Tuesday. Päivälehti Helsingin Sanomat was the first to announce on Monday.
Minister of Family and Social Affairs Krista Kiuru (SDP) told Yle on Friday that restrictions on Uusimaa restaurants were coming.
Authorities have been concerned about the risk of infection in nightclubs, which are open almost all night but do not offer alcohol. Alcohol sales are prohibited from 23:00 until 24:00, but some nightclubs reopen one hour after closing time, for example, offering non-alcoholic drinks and karaoke.
The concern is particularly acute in Uusimaa, where the epidemic entered the Community phase last week.
PM: New emergency or closure of Uusimaa possible
Last week, the prime minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said the Uusimaa authorities still have room to tighten restrictions.
On Monday, Marin called on local authorities to impose stricter restrictions, warning that setting a new state of emergency and / or re-closing the borders of Uusimaa is not ruled out.
"If the regions do not have control of the situation and it worsens considerably, we may find ourselves in a situation where we have to declare a state of emergency and activate emergency legislation," said Marin. "That is why I strongly urge the regions and municipalities of the rest of Finland to renew themselves and take adequate measures in time."
The government recommends that public events and group sports and recreational opportunities for people over the age of 20 be canceled in areas where the coronavirus epidemic has entered a higher-risk community transfer phase. From last week, this includes Helsinki and its neighboring cities of Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa.
On Friday, the Uusimaa coronavir virus working group decided to ban all public events for more than 20 people, as well as contact and team sports, for people over 20 years of age.
Education authorities in the area also told Yle on Monday that they had planned to start tiered distance learning if the situation in Covid so required.