Prime Minister Marin urges government to allow low-risk events to return, as HUS doctor says epidemic is likely to peak in metropolitan area

The Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin has called on the government to speed up the reintroduction of low-risk sporting and cultural events through the Covid Passport.

The minister said on Twitter on Twitter that the government plans to assess the need for current and future coronavirus measures.

"The government is assessing the need for restrictions for the epidemic to progress. It should consider opening low-risk cultural and sporting events with a Covid Passport and extending the opening hours of restaurants on a faster schedule than previously estimated." Marin stated on tweet.

The government has previously announced that it will remove restrictions on the indoor hobby of children and young people and repeal the recommendations on distance learning in higher education from February.

HUS doctor: In the metropolitan area, probably already at the top of Covid

Asko Järvinen, The chief physician of Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) and the head of the Department of Communicable Diseases have estimated that the epidemic has already culminated in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

"The number of patients has remained fairly stable for a couple of weeks now. This means that the epidemic is likely to have peaked, although there are still many patients," he said.

According to Järvinen, Omicron infections have not yet reached their peak elsewhere in Finland.

"According to some international estimates, the strongest peak of the Omicron wave is about 3 to 5 weeks. In that case, the disease could have been paralyzed in Uusimaa as early as February. It may take longer in other parts of the country depending on when the epidemic strikes there properly," he explained.

Several regional government agencies have already begun easing restrictions, with several areas reported to be showing signs of improvement in their Covid-19 situation.

The coronavir virus coordination group in the Helsinki metropolitan area announced on Tuesday that it recommends that the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (Avi) allow the reopening of low-risk facilities from 1 February 2022.

The lifting of restrictions would apply to interiors such as gyms, swimming pools and public lounges in shopping malls.

According to the group, coronavirus infections continue to weigh heavily on health care, but the burden has not worsened and has already begun to ease.

Source: The Nordic Page