Temporary derogations to the use of COVID-19 passport

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

28.12.2021 17.43 | Published in English on 29.12.2021 at 11.06

Press release 420/2021

The Government has adopted a decree on temporary restrictions to the use of the COVID-19 passport referred to in section 58 i § of the Communicable Diseases Act.

The decree will enter into force on Thursday 30 December 2021 at 00.00.

By virtue of the decree, the effects of the COVID-19 passport will be temporarily restricted between 30 December 2021 and 20 January 2022, when it cannot be used as an alternative to regional restrictions on certain public events and customer premises.

The decree will apply to all public events and customer premises that are subject to existing restrictions. Regional authorities will decide what restrictions are in place in their areas.

The derogation to the use of the COVID-19 passport will apply to the areas of the hospital districts that meet the criteria for the community transmission phase.: These include the following hospital districts: Helsinki and Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Kymenlaakso, South Karelia, South Savo, North Savo, Central Finland, Vaasa, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Länsi-Pohja and Lapland.

This temporary regulation, necessitated by the exceptional epidemiological situation, will help in safeguarding people’s right to health and wellbeing by curbing the rapid spread of the disease. Improving the vaccination coverage is the most significant means of curbing the epidemic effectively.

In addition, the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services decided in its meeting on 28 December that preparations concerning an amendment of the provisions on the COVID-19 passport should be started as soon as possible to enable more accurately targeted restrictions on public events and customer premises in future.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health instructs the Regional State Administrative Agencies to examine the restrictions on public events and customer premises in their areas of operation, especially as concerns low-risk events.

EDIT 29.12.2021 11:15: the press release previously stated that the restrictions to the use of COVID-19 passport start 28 December 2021. The correct starting day of the restrictions is 30 December 2021.

Inquiries

Jaska Siikavirta, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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