Regional situation in the coronavirus epidemic and issued recommendations

Everyone over the age of 12 is recommended to wear a face mask when in a space with other people present.

Please see THL’s (Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare) instructions on using face masks.

Employers are recommended to organize remote work in all tasks that can be carried out remotely even temporarily. If working remotely is not possible, workplaces should stagger lunch and coffee breaks.

The coordination group recommends that no private events be held.

Private events also include family gatherings. However, small memorial services (of 10 people at most) are excluded and can be held. The recommendation is valid until 16th of May.

It is recommended that private events will be limited to a maximum of six people starting from 17th of May.

The graduation ceremonies of upper secondary schools will be organised in person for the students. However, no audience will be admitted to the events, which will be streamed online for home viewing. The ceremonies will be organised in accordance with the health security principles applicable to contact teaching. The available space will determine the maximum number of students for each ceremony.

Graduation parties organised at home or on other private premises during the spring and summer should primarily be held outdoors in accordance with effective recommendations on private event attendance and other guidelines regarding the safe arrangement of events.

It is also recommended to follow Finnish institute for health and welfare's instructions "Treatment of coronavirus and instructions for the infected"

Protecting the elderly and other at-risk groups is especially important. Restrictions on visiting social welfare and healthcare units, including units that provide 24-hour-care:

All municipality-run facilities open to the public will be closed with the exception of securing the right to access essential public services.

Youth centers may be opened by municipal decision on May 3, 2021 at the earliest.

The recommendation is to organize youth activities mainly outdoors.

Youth activities must follow the general principles on health and safety including the use of masks and safe distancing.

Swimming pools will be opened with restrictions to people born in 1955 and older from May 17, 2021 onwards.

The activities will follow currently valid recommendations and the sections 58 c and d of the Communicable Diseases Act.

Conditions for using facilities meant for customers or participants (Communicable Diseases Act section 58 d): In indoor customer facilities for more than 10 people and limited outdoor customer locations for more than 50 people, activities must be organized so that customers, participants and groups are actually able to avoid close contact with each other. We recommend that the Regional State Administrative Agency continue the restriction until the end of May.

Public events (Communicable Diseases Act section 58): All indoor and outdoor public events are prohibited in HUS municipalities. However, events and meetings for a maximum of 6 people may be arranged indoors and in limited outdoor locations if their safety can be guaranteed in compliance with the instructions issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture on September 21, 2020. We recommend that the Regional State Administrative Agency continue the restriction until the end of May.

All adult recreational group activities and participating in them is suspended until 16thf of May.

Outdoor hobby activities for adults will be available to a limited extent as of 17 May 2021.

Premises and areas of the cities require compliance with separate health security instructions, which entails organisers being required to provide a health security plan, for example. The coronavirus coordination group recommends all operators to adhere to the same instructions.

Recreational activities may be arranged, with limitations, in indoor premises owned by municipalities for children born in 2008 and later. Outdoor activities may be arranged for people aged 20 and younger, with limitations.

Starting from 17 May 2021, outdoor competitive activities related to the hobbies of children and young people will be made available to a limited extent to those born in 2001 and later. The health security instructions applicable to recreational activities must be observed in the context of these activities. The Regional State Administrative Agency’s decisions on public event attendance apply to competition audiences.

In addition to day camps for children and young people, overnight camp activities will be enabled to a limited degree as of 17 May 2021. The health security instructions applicable to recreational activities must be observed in the context of these activities.

The regional coordination group recommends that private service providers adhere to these restrictions as well.

Restricting the opening hours, alcohol sales hours and the number of customer seats of food and beverage service businesses: according to the guidelines issued by the Government.

Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group

Read more about the criteria for the different stages of the epidemic in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s press release and the publication ”Action plan for implementing recommendations and restrictive measures under the hybrid strategy following the first phase of the COVID-19 epidemic” (in Finnish).

The current municipality-specific recommendations and restrictions can be found on each municipality’s website:

City of Espoo

City of Helsinki

City of Vantaa