Finland’s updated coronavirus strategy is due to be approved on Monday, Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said after talks with the government on Thursday in Helsinki.
Government ministers met in the afternoon in the legacy room to discuss the coronavirus situation and how society can return to normal life after a pandemic.
The revised strategy would emphasize carefully targeted restrictions in order to open up society as safely as possible when vaccination is sufficiently comprehensive.
"Our goal is to keep society as open as possible through vaccinations while ensuring that economic, health and social harm is kept to a minimum, ”Marin said.
According to Marin, the current estimate is that adequate vaccine coverage will be achieved in October, when restrictions could be lifted more widely.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health stated earlier on Thursday that Finland could reach a vaccination rate of 80% by October, especially if the dosing intervals are shortened from eight weeks to six weeks in accordance with the updated THL guidelines.
More than half of the population is now fully vaccinated, and 72 percent have received at least one injection.
2 m requirement set for departure
In the meantime, the government decides to cancel the two-meter safety distance for public events on Friday or Monday. Several ministers who arrived for talks on Thursday told reporters that they felt the requirement was no longer needed.
Marin said earlier this week that government parties had agreed to remove the requirement for infectious diseases. The proposal will be presented to Parliament as soon as possible, Yle has learned.
Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson (SPP) told reporters when he arrived at the meeting that the introduction of the Covid passport will also be discussed at Thursday’s meeting.
A passport already in use in other European countries could be used to continue major events and festivals.