Ministerial Working Group on Coordinating COVID-19 Response proposes to lift restrictions on food and beverage service businesses — hygiene requirements to remain in force

On 22 February, the Government’s Ministerial Working Group on Coordinating COVID-19 Response received an update on the epidemiological situation. The Ministerial Working Group proposes that changes be made to the restrictions on food and beverage service businesses and the amendments made to the Health Insurance Act be extended. The proposal for measures to improve safety at work during the COVID-19 epidemic will be circulated for comments.

The COVID-19 epidemic caused by the Omicron variant is declining in Europe. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Finland continues to fall, but the epidemiological situation still varies considerably from one region to another. The need for hospital care has remained high in many regions, but the burden on intensive care is lower than during the previous peaks of the epidemic. 

Vaccination coverage in Finland is good, particularly among older age groups. Recently, the increase in vaccination coverage has, however, slowed down considerably. Vaccinations continue to provide effective protection against the most serious forms of COVID-19, and they clearly reduce the risk of being hospitalised or dying from the COVID-19 disease.

The Ministerial Working Group stresses that COVID-safe behaviour plays an even bigger role as society reopens. Getting vaccinated is important in the current situation.

Restaurant restrictions to be lifted, hygiene requirements to remain in force 

The Ministerial Working Group proposes that the requirements concerning the opening and licensing hours, customer capacity and seating arrangements of food and beverage service businesses be lifted as of 1 March.  

The general hygiene requirement for food and beverage service businesses would remain in force in all regions until 31 March. 

If the burden on hospitals were to increase considerably, it would be necessary to reconsider restrictions on food and beverage service businesses. 

Proposal for measures to improve safety at work during the COVID-19 epidemic to be circulated for comments 

The Ministerial Working Group proposes that the proposal of the relevant tripartite working group for temporarily amending the Occupational Safety and Health Act be sent out for comments.

The working group’s proposal covers a wide range of issues related to working life, so the Ministerial Working Group considers it necessary to circulate the proposal for comments. Because the proposal concerns the processing of personal data, it is also necessary to consult the Data Protection Ombudsman before a possible government proposal can be issued. 

After the consultation round, the issuance of the proposal and its validity period will be assessed, taking into account the prevailing epidemiological situation. 

Amendments to the Health Insurance Act to remain in force 

The Ministerial Working Group proposes that the temporary amendments made to the Health Insurance Act due to the COVID-19 epidemic remain in force until 30 June 2022. The temporary derogations from the Unemployment Security Act would remain in force until 28 February.

Inquiries: Timo Lehtinen, Special Adviser to Minister Lindén, firstname.lastname@gov.fi; Hanna Hänninen, Special Adviser to Minister Sarkkinen, firstname.lastname@gov.fi; Taneli Puumalainen, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@gov.fi (restaurant restrictions); Raimo Antila, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@gov.fi (safety at work during the COVID-19 epidemic); Heli Backman, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@gov.fi (changes to social security)