On Friday, local authorities officially lifted restrictions on the coronavirus, which halved the number of people gathering in swimming pools and concert halls in the metropolitan area.
While some facilities may have been open while restrictions were in place, sports facilities and theaters can now once again operate at full capacity.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday updated its guidelines on the use of face masks, but left decisions on their use to the individual’s discretion. According to the THL, the new recommendations recommend that people consider using masks in high-risk situations, especially if they are unvaccinated.
Petteri Huurre, The Sports Director of the City of Helsinki said he was pleased that the restrictions were lifted at just the right time. He explained that October-November was normally the busiest time of the year for activities in the city’s swimming pools and sports groups.
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The restrictions also applied to gyms and multi-purpose sports facilities, but Huurre pointed out that unnecessary close contact between customers must still be avoided in an unrestricted environment.
"Do not take any action if you have the flu," he noted.
Helsinki Vesa Vatanen has been using the Pirkkola indoor pool since childhood.
"Some are celebrating the recent easing of restaurant restrictions, but for me, these Sports Venues are really important," Vatanen said.
Because he was already used to working from home before the pandemic, Vatanen said the restrictions on sports facilities were his hardest to deal with during the crisis.
"Exercise, especially swimming, is a good counterbalance to work," he explained.
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Audience restrictions at concert halls, movie theaters and theaters were also lifted on Friday, October 1st.
At the time, there were no restrictions or restrictions on the crowds recommended by the regional government agencies (Avi) in any part of the country.
However, official recommendations on general hygiene remain valid and affect public places such as shopping malls and grocery stores. For example, employees and customers must be given the opportunity to wash their hands and efforts must be made to ensure that individuals can be spread as far apart as possible.
The authorities’ reasons for removing the restrictions included extending the coverage of Covid and improving the epidemic situation in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
For example, the need for hospitalization for those suffering from coronavirus in the Helsinki metropolitan area seems to have stabilized at a relatively low level for some time. As the situation in hospitals seems to be under control, the aim is to reopen society without local authorities placing a wider restriction on the horizon.
Helsinki Paula Klemola said he believes some people will be cautious about their behavior in public places for some time, even though the restrictions have been completely removed.
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"There will still be a little caution. I think, for example, more attention needs to be paid to hand washing. Avoiding close contact with others seems natural," Klemola said, adding that he thought it was important to finally open up society.
It was also announced on Thursday that the government decided to ease restrictions on restaurants. Recommendations for working from home are also due to end in mid-October.