Due to the improvement of the epidemic, restrictions related to the coronavirus in restaurants and bars will be eased to varying degrees on Thursday in Finland, according to the authorities.
The country’s most severe restrictions apply in areas considered to be epidemic in the community step, including the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Päijät-Häme and South Karelia. In these areas, meal establishments must stop selling alcohol at 7 p.m. and close at 8 p.m.
At the same time, bars and pubs in those areas must close at 7pm and stop selling alcohol an hour earlier.
The areas in the accelerating phase of the epidemic have the second strictest rules in the country, including the hospital districts of Kanta-Häme, Central Ostrobothnia, Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa and Länsi-Pohja.
There are no separate opening hours for restaurants, cafés and bars in these areas. All food and beverage outlets must stop selling alcoholic beverages at 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m.
Areas at the outset of the epidemic include Åland, Southern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, Central Finland, Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Northern Savonia, Southern Savonia, North Karelia, Satakunta and elsewhere than Western Ostrobothnia.
Facilities in those areas may be open until 1 p.m., and alcohol sales end at midnight.
No karaoke, but dances OK on the terraces
All food and beverage establishments can open as early as 5 a.m., and the sale of alcohol is permitted after 7 a.m.
Establishments also have the same restrictions on the number of customers served. Restaurants are limited to three-quarters of normal full customer capacity and bars and pubs are limited to half of capacity.
Each guest of the restaurant still needs to be given their own seat, and the ban on karaoke singing and dancing indoors remains in place.
Safe distance measures must still be observed on the outdoor terrace, but seating restrictions and a dance ban do not apply to such outdoor services.
However, customer number restrictions do not apply to Åland.
Restrictions do not affect workplace canteens, and restaurant warranty services are still allowed.
The tourism and restaurant union MaRa has sharply criticized the government for the slow removal of restrictions.
Source: The Nordic Page