Regional situation in the coronavirus epidemic and issued recommendations

Employers in both the private and public sector are recommended to organize remote work in regions currently in the acceleration and community transmission phase. In the workplace, employers should make arrangements to reduce close contact and other risk factors.

Guidelines for remote work - Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Use of mask is recommended indoors in the work place if two or more persons work in the same space.

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

Everyone over the age of 12 is recommended to wear a face mask when using public transport or vehicles such as taxis. Wearing a mask is also always recommended in public indoor spaces and events including schools and educational institutions in grade 6 and up.

Recommendation on the use of face masks for citizens – Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare

Additionally, use of face mask is recommended for everyone over the age of 12 participating in public outdoor events.

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

No restrictions in place in schools, educational institutions or day care centers.

Public spaces will be open by decision of each municipality.

Wearing a mask is recommended when using public transport. Face masks are mandatory on public transport in the capital region.

Public transport and coronavirus – information for passengers – HSL

Are face masks obligatory on trains? – VR

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.

Restrictions on public events and meetings are in effect throughout the hospital district. Restrictions require that organizers of public events and meetings consider the health and safety of participants.

The Regional State Administrative Agency has made a decision regarding public events and meetings in the Uusimaa Region.

See Decision by the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland for September 4–September 30, 2021 (in Finnish).

Additionally, municipalities may issue stricter restrictions based on the epidemic situation in their area.

The general guidelines for stopping the spread of COVID-19 should be followed when organizing public events, gatherings and when using public spaces: Attendants should be healthy, use of face mask is recommended, and it is the responsibility of the organizer to ensure adequate safe distancing and hygiene level. Effective sanitization can prevent the spread of the virus. Organizers should also ensure that customers are able to sanitize their hands.

Guidelines for preventing coronavirus infections at public events and gatherings and in the use of certain spaces by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare on May 31, 2021

The coordination group recommends that participants at private events follow the restrictions regarding public events and meetings. Read more in the previous segment titled “Public events”.

How to protect yourself from Coronavirus? (Finnish institute for health and welfare)

Recreational activities for adults, children, and adolescents will be made possible by municipal decisions. All activities must adhere to the Regional State Administrative Agency’s guidelines for that area regarding Communicable Diseases Act sections 58 c and 58.

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

The procedures laid down in section 58 c of the Communicable Diseases Act to stop the spread of the virus continue to apply to facilities run by private service providers.

The general guidelines for preventing coronavirus infections must be followed in facilities of private service providers. Attendants should be healthy, use of face mask is recommended, and it is the responsibility of the organizer to ensure adequate safe distancing and hygiene level. Effective sanitization can prevent the spread of the virus. Organizers should also ensure that customers are able to sanitize their hands.

How to protect yourself from a coronavirus infection? – Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare

Travel is restricted during the coronavirus pandemic

Travel to and from Finland - Finnish Government

Travel information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

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