Finnish ministers will meet on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the Covid situation in a growing cry from doctors and public health authorities, calling for new measures to reduce people-to-people contacts and slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
Before the meeting Markku TervahautaThe director of the THL, the Department of Health and Welfare, confirmed that his agency recommended suspending the Covid passport exemption for events and restaurants.
The current rules mean that in areas with restrictions, pubs must close early and events will be restricted to a smaller number – unless they require a Covid Passport from customers.
Tar Grave said THL has told the government it is time to reconsider the exemption, which in practice brings much wider restrictions to everyday life.
Covid tests from Schengen tourists?
Chief Physician of Infectious Diseases in Lapland Markku Broas, at the same time told Yle that he wanted border guards to require pre-departure Covid tests for passengers arriving from Schengen countries.
At present, Finland requires pre-departure tests if the passenger arrives from a non-Schengen country, but not from those traveling from the EU’s common travel area.
Broas told Yle that 10-15 percent of Covid cases in Lapland were foreign tourists.
Requires action
On Monday, a group of specialists called on the government to take strong measures to reduce the number of cases, as there are about 63 patients in intensive care in Finland.
At the same time, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said over the weekend that Finland could decide to extend school holidays to prevent the epidemic from spreading in educational institutions.
Source: The Nordic Page