prime minister Sanna Marin (SDP) presented the government’s plan for phasing out coronavirus restrictions and a recommendation to Parliament’s plenary session on Wednesday afternoon.
Measures to prevent the spread of the virus will be phased out in line with the government’s previously announced exit strategy.
On Tuesday, the government had announced the cessation of the emergency power introduced in early March to address the escalation of the coronavirus situation.
According to the government’s Covid exit strategy, youth activities will resume in April and May as the pandemic situation allows, while adults will be allowed to participate in group activities outdoors in June and July and then possibly indoors at the earliest in August.
Finland’s border crossing restrictions will be gradually relaxed from May and throughout Europe "coronavirus passports" can be introduced as early as the end of June.
Marin told Parliament that the restrictions could be lifted earlier than planned if the pandemic situation improves faster than the government’s plan predicts. He also said restrictions could need to be continued, reinstated or tightened if the situation worsens in certain areas.
"The government monitors the situation regularly throughout the summer and is ready to react quickly to changes in the situation if necessary. For example, it is possible that by the end of August, the number of infections may gradually increase as social contacts increase, especially in educational institutions and workplaces," Marin said, adding that the government will review and evaluate the conditions and target schedules for removing the restrictions every two weeks.
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Opposition parties criticize the strategy
Opposition parties criticized the government’s planned border strategy and argued in Wednesday’s plenary session that increased cross-border traffic also increases the risk that more contagious coronavirus alternatives may enter Finland.
"As the volume of traffic increases, the Indian variant of the virus will certainly come to Finland, unless we have a good policy at the borders," Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party Mia Laiho said.
The Minister of Social Affairs responded to criticism from the opposition party Krista Kiuru (SDP) said the government is currently preparing an updated Covid border security model for submission to Parliament.
"We are once again preparing a new model, a legislative model for this test certificate, and we would like to finally bring it here [to Parliament]. We also hope that the assessment of fundamental rights will be such that it comes here," Kiuru said.
The previous draft was rejected by Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs last October because it was considered to be deficient, especially from the point of view of citizens’ fundamental rights.
In his closing speech at Wednesday’s meeting, Prime Minister Marin stated that Finland needs reformed pandemic legislation and that opposition parties and the government should be involved in its preparation.