The government has announced plans to remove restrictions on social life and business once at least 80 percent of those over 12 have been fully vaccinated. It is estimated that the vaccination coverage target could be reached in mid-October or at the end of October.
“The premise of the coronavirus passport is that society will be opened up as part of a hybrid strategy once adequate vaccination has been achieved. In this case, restrictions are in principle not needed for normal daily life, and no coronavirus card is needed, ”the Minister of Family and Social Affairs introduced. Krista Kiuru (SDP).
“However, if a large group of infections appears in a particular area and we have to take action because of the cluster, a coronavirus card may be needed,” he added. “So a passport would not act as a restriction, but as an exemption from restrictions.”
The passport could be accepted by both public and private sector actors and could be required, for example, for public events, nightclubs and restaurants, hobby and sports facilities, and museums and amusement parks. Companies and municipalities can decide to accept a passport or, for example, to limit participation, capacity or opening hours.
It could be obtained on the basis that he has been fully vaccinated against coronavirus, recovered from coronavirus disease or tested negative.
A passport may be required for 12-year-olds, as vaccines are available for 12-year-olds and older. Although 12- to 17-year-olds would always have access to free tests, asymptomatic adults who have not recovered from coronavirus disease or have not been vaccinated for non-medical reasons would have received the test in the private sector, where test prices have ranged from just under € 100 to € 200. .
Kiuru reported that cabinet members did not see age limits eye to eye.
“We wanted to ensure that children can also be free of restrictions if there are regional, large infection groups,” he explained.
The Finnish government also decided yesterday to maintain its entry restrictions to prevent the virus from spreading abroad. According to its proposal, people entering the country must present a certificate of complete vaccination with an approved vaccine, recovery from the disease within the last six months, or a negative test taken before arrival.
Arrivals who present a partial vaccination certificate or a negative test must take a new test 72 to 120 hours after arrival.
The requirements apply to persons born in 2005 at the latest. Certificates are also not required for passengers who have been in the last 14 days in a country or region where the presence of the virus mutation virus does not pose a high risk of infection.
On Tuesday, Kiuru rejected the tourism industry’s repeated claim that entry restrictions are particularly strict.
“Full vaccination already makes it possible to come to Finland. Already 300 million Europeans can enter without restrictions. That’s pretty much it, ”he said.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT