The use of the Covid passport was restricted in late December, but according to the prime minister Sanna Marin (SDP), its use could be expanded again as part of new corona virus measures to be announced next week, says commercial broadcaster MTV.
However, the role of the passport is likely to change, Marin told MTV on Saturday night. The Finnish coronavirus passport, introduced in October, is based on the EU’s digital Covid certificate.
Marin said the passport should become an independent tool that is not just used to circumvent restrictions. Booster vaccinations and the role of Covid tests could also change the use of the document, he said.
"We need to assess whether the use of the passport can be circumvented by testing. In this case, unvaccinated people may be exposed to the disease," Marin said.
Salminen suspects a Covid passport
On Sunday, Mika SalminenThe Director of Health Security at THL, the National Institute of Health, expressed doubts about continuing to use the Covid Passport.
"If your passport doesnโt stop the spread of infections, you may be wondering if itโs needed at all, even on the go. If vaccines do not prevent infections, even if they prevent disease, then the whole passport will be lost," he said in an interview with MTV.
As the use of the Covid passport is based on EU legislation, its use must be reconsidered at European level, Salminen said.
More restrictions on bars next week?
The government plans to meet early next week to discuss new restrictions on restaurants, including measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
By Antti Neilala, Head of the Employment Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor, the rules for restaurants will be drawn up on the basis of guidelines issued by the Ministerial Working Group at the end of last week.
Preparations are being made jointly by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor.
The working group is planning additional restrictions on restaurants whose main business is the sale of alcoholic beverages, Neimala told STT.
Source: The Nordic Page