He added that the same decision is also being considered for other hospital districts in the AVI administrative area of Southern Finland: Kymenlaakso, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme and South Karelia. The authority has invoked section 58g of the Communicable Diseases Act to prevent gyms and other similar facilities from admitting more than 10 people at a time to HUS, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme and South Karelia.
On Sunday, the Finnish Parliament approved the amendments to sections 58d and 58g of the Act to clarify that municipalities and regional authorities have the power to temporarily close such facilities instead of setting an upper limit of 10 people. The changes must take effect on Wednesday, the 31st Wednesday.
Mölsä said that the AVI of Southern Finland could therefore make a decision on the closures on Thursday, April 1. “Operators should prepare for that,” he said.
In addition to gyms, the section can be applied to other sports and exercise facilities; public saunas, spas and swimming pools; dance, choir rehearsal and amateur theater venues; amusement and theme parks; indoor playgrounds; and common areas of shopping centers.
The amended sections are valid until June 30.
AVI for Southern Finland and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health had interpreted the unchanged version of the law differently.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page