Restrictions on assembly throughout Uusimaa have been eased since Saturday, says the Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency (Avi).
The requirement for a social distance of two meters and the requirement for block distribution in the Helsinki region has been waived, and a capacity of up to 50 per cent can be allowed indoors.
Avi in Southern Finland made its decision on Friday afternoon in accordance with the assessment of the situation in the Coronavir Coordination Group of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area (HUS) chaired by the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS). At its meeting on Tuesday, the panel recommended easing restrictions.
The pandemic continues to burden Uusimaa’s health care
The pandemic continues to burden the health care system in Uusimaa, Finland’s most populous region, mainly due to extended testing and tracking. However, according to the hospital district’s assessment, the situation has changed so that assembly restrictions can be eased. The number of hospital patients, including intensive care units, has not changed much since last spring.
The Avi decision is valid at least on September 30th.
According to Avin’s chief inspector Oona Mölsä, rapid change was possible due to the recommendations of the health authorities.
"We got a forecast that eases [of the pandemic] may be possible soon. And since under the Communicable Diseases Act we are not allowed to keep stricter restrictions and restrict fundamental rights for longer than necessary, the decision will come into force tomorrow," Mölsä told Yle on Friday.
Avi will continue to monitor the situation with the Regional Coordination Group on an ongoing basis and will amend or lift restrictions as necessary.
Source: The Nordic Page