The Finnish Parliament has voted to approve the temporary Covid Act in plenary on Friday afternoon. MPs also approved the extension of Finland’s border restrictions during the same session.
The proposal was approved by 105 votes to 33, and the Covid passport is expected to take effect from midnight on Friday after the president signs the law. Sauli Niinistö.
The main purpose of the passport is to allow companies, such as restaurants or gyms, to circumvent regional coronavirus restrictions by ensuring that customers are fully vaccinated against the virus, have recently received a negative test, or have recovered from the virus.
In addition, an age limit of 16 years has been set and the passport will only be used in areas where coronavirus restrictions apply.
In addition, companies and public spaces can decide for themselves whether or not to ask customers to show a Covid passport.
While it remains to be seen how extensive passport use will be used, institutions that could apply for a passport include: Sports venues, gyms, swimming pools, theaters, museums and similar cultural facilities, as well as bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Bars, restaurants can request a passport from midnight
According to the government Press release On Friday morning, there are currently six areas where the opening hours and activities of bars and restaurants are still limited: Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Päijät-Häme and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
This means that if, for example, a restaurant requires customers to show a Covid Passport, regional restrictions do not apply. However, if the restaurant does not ask guests for a passport, the facility will still have to comply with regional Covid restrictions.
A bar or restaurant that requires customers to show their passports may be open longer and serve alcohol later than establishments that do not use the passport system.
Riku-Matti Lehikoinen, The head of Avin’s alcohol management unit told Yle that agencies will start monitoring compliance with the new regulations from midnight on Friday.
"The Covid passport makes it clear that if the passport is in use, there are very few rules, but if the passport is not used, there are quite a few rules and restrictions," he said, adding that inspectors can instruct restaurant or bar staff to check a customer’s passport.
"If we suspect that someone has not been asked for a passport, we can advise staff to check. People who do not have a passport must be ordered out [after the closing time designated by the regional restrictions]," Lehikoinen said.
The protesters gather outside Parliament
Before MPs voted on the bill, an estimated 250-300 people gathered in front of Parliament at noon on Friday to protest against the introduction of the passport.
The story continues after the picture.
The demonstration was organized For freedom (roughly translated as “For Freedom”).
In Parliament, all members of the opposition parties who took part in the session were Finns and Christian Democrats and Ano Turtiainen the one-man power belongs to the people (VKK) party voted against the bill.
However, 21 members of the National Coalition Party of Opposition Parties who attended the session voted in favor Harry Harkimo from the store now.
Source: The Nordic Page