Regional situation in the coronavirus epidemic and issued recommendations
A regional coordination group operates in Uusimaa to organize the regional work that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requires the authorities to carry out and to coordinate the measures (in Finnish). The group monitors the epidemic situation and the need for recommendations and restrictions aimed at tackling the epidemic. The group is chaired by Chief Medical Officer Markku Mäkijärvi from HUS.
Read more about regional coordination group (in Finnish)
The regional coordination group proposes recommendations and restrictions related to the epidemic. The official decisions will be made by the Regional State Administrative Agency (Aluehallintovirasto) and by municipalities.
Epidemic situation on May 12th, 2022
The coronavirus epidemic is in the transmission phase in the whole Uusimaa region.
Check the phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in your region
Confirmed coronavirus cases (COVID-19) in Finland (THL Coronamap)
This page will be updated on April 19th.
Recommendations and restrictions in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa
It is recommended to employers that wide-scale remote work be gradually switched to a combination of remote and contact work as of 1 March.
Guidelines for remote work - Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
By wearing a mask, everyone aged 12 and over can protect themselves when using crowded public transport and indoors when it is difficult to avoid close contact.
Wearing a mask is recommended especially for:
- Those seeking testing or treatment due to a suspected COVID-19 infection
- Those with symptoms of a respiratory tract infection if leaving the home cannot be avoided
- Those who know they have been exposed to COVID-19 (e.g. family members tested positive) and close contact with people outside the home cannot be avoided
- Clients, patients and visitors visiting social welfare or health care services and the staff in these services as instructed by the responsible authorities
Recommendation on the use of face masks for citizens – Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
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.
Restaurant restrictions in force in all of Finland – Finnish Government
The regional recommendation for schoolchildren has been abandoned, but municipalities may provide guidance on masks in schools.
The Regional coordination group recommends that masks are available in schools for those students who want to use the mask.
The general hygiene requirements of the Communicable Diseases Act still apply, which improve the health safety of customer and public premises. Section 58 c of the Communicable Diseases Act defines general hygiene requirements and are valid without separate official decisions throughout Finland in various customer and public premises, such as shops, shopping centres, sports facilities, museums, theatres and libraries.
The general hygiene requirements of the Communicable Diseases Act still apply, which improve the health safety of customer and public premises. Section 58 c of the Communicable Diseases Act defines general hygiene requirements and are valid without separate official decisions throughout Finland in various customer and public premises, such as shops, shopping centres, sports facilities, museums, theatres and libraries.
In accordance with Section 58 c of the Communicable Diseases Act, private service providers must ensure that:
- Customers and participants are able to sanitize their hands;
- Customers and participants are instructed about appropriate safe distances, hand sanitization, and other infection prevention methods; and
- Cleaning of premises and surfaces is enhanced in addition to what is provided elsewhere for cleaning requirements.
In addition, customers and participants should be accommodated in such a way to allow as much space as possible considering the specific characteristics of the activity in question, and customer seats should be located at a sufficient distance from each other.
How to protect yourself from a coronavirus infection? Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
See “Use of face mask” above.
We recommend meeting visitors outdoors, if possible. The number of visitors indoors and the duration of visits is restricted. More detailed information on the visiting practices in units can be found on their respective websites.
Starting February 14th, 2022 no restrictions are in place for public events and meetings. Municipalities may set restrictions specific to their area based on the epidemic situation.
The organisers of an event or the parties responsible for the premises may require their customers or participants to present a COVID-19 passport with the same principles as before, but currently the passport cannot be used as an alternative for the restrictions.
The general hygiene requirements of the Communicable Diseases Act still apply, which improve the health safety of customer and public premises. Section 58 c of the Communicable Diseases Act defines general hygiene requirements and are valid without separate official decisions throughout Finland in various customer and public premises.
There are no restrictions related to private events currently in force in the Uusimaa Area. However, it is still advisable to follow general health safety recommendations, such as participating only when you are completely healthy, observing good hand hygiene and keeping a sufficient distance to others, also in private events.
How to protect yourself from a coronavirus infection? – Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
The general hygiene requirements of the Communicable Diseases Act still apply, which improve the health safety of customer and public premises. Section 58 c of the Communicable Diseases Act defines general hygiene requirements and are valid without separate official decisions throughout Finland in various customer and public premises, such as shops, shopping centers, sports facilities, museums, theatres and libraries.
In accordance with Section 58 c of the Communicable Diseases Act, the organizer of recreational activities must ensure that:
- Customers and participants are able to sanitize their hands;
- Customers and participants are instructed about appropriate safe distances, hand sanitization, and other infection prevention methods; and
- Cleaning of premises and surfaces is enhanced in addition to what is provided elsewhere for cleaning requirements.
In addition, customers and participants should be accommodated in such a way to allow as much space as possible considering the specific characteristics of the activity in question, and customer seats should be located at a sufficient distance from each other.
More information
Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group
The current municipality-specific recommendations and restrictions can be found on each municipality’s website: