No changes were made to the capacity limits and hygiene protocol requirements for restaurants, so the number of customers in food restaurants must be limited to 75% and in alcohol restaurants to 50% of full capacity.
According to the Minister of Social Affairs and Health, the restrictions will be returned no later than the second week of February Hanna Sarkkinen (LA).
He recalled at the press conference that although the epidemic is believed to have peaked, there is still strong regional variation in the epidemiological situation. “It is too early to set strict timetables for lifting the restrictions, but in the context of the forthcoming coronavirus strategy update, we will try to give prospects for the coming months and the lifting of the restrictions.”
The government is expected to discuss updating its coronavirus strategy in the coming weeks.
The coronavirus passport will remain on the shelf for at least 15.2. The government recalled press release yesterday that while restaurants are entitled to use a passport as an entry requirement, it does not exempt them from capacity or serving and opening hours restrictions.
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has estimated that the passport in its current form will not be able to slow the spread of the omicron variant.
The government also recommended that municipalities and regional government agencies lift the ban on low-risk events and venues – such as gyms, theaters, museums, libraries, art exhibitions, amusement parks and swimming pools – on February 1.
Local and regional authorities can decide independently whether to comply with the recommendation.
โThe Ministerial Task Force on the Coronavirus Pandemic wants to deregulate low-risk places and events, such as theaters and gyms, to increase cultural and sporting opportunities in particular. We are returning from complete downtime to a system in which regional authorities are urged to assess less severe restrictions based on the disease situation, โSarkkinen comments.
โNot all restrictions could be lifted at this stage, as the disease situation remains difficult and the overwhelming risk of hospital capacity has not yet evaporated. The government is closely monitoring the impact of the lifting of restrictions on the disease situation.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page