Fewer people were tested for coronavirus during Christmas week – Number of reported cases fell

30.12.2020

The number of coronavirus infections reported in Finland decreased during the Christmas week (21-27 December). The number of coronavirus tests administered also fell significantly from the previous...
Koronavilkku mobile app to be made interoperable with EU/EEA apps

30.12.2020

The Koronavilkku mobile app will be made interoperable with applications developed in other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. When reporting an infection via Koronavilkku, users may send...
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health sent a circular of hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 crisis

29.12.2020

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has updated its action plan implementing the hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 crisis in accordance with the Government Resolution adopted on 22 December...
Growth rate of new COVID-19 cases has slowed down, but the situation remains serious

23.12.2020

The increase in the number of new coronavirus infections has slowed down in Finland, but new cases are still found widely across the country.
Ministries review nationwide recommendation to work remotely – grounds for keeping recommendation in force still strong

23.12.2020

On 23 October 2020, the Government issued a national recommendation for employees to work remotely until further notice. The ministries had to assess the grounds for keeping the recommendation in...
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health updates the action plan to manage COVID-19

22.12.2020

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has updated the action plan that guides social welfare and healthcare actors in their work to curb the COVID-19 epidemic. To effectively prevent the virus...
Healthcare and social welfare workers first in line to get authorised COVID-19 vaccines on voluntary basis

22.12.2020

On 22 December, the Finnish Government issued a decree on vaccinations, which is needed to deploy the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Finland. The programme will use vaccines against SARS-CoV-2...
VN 2020
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health welcomes contribution to preparation of the Government Report on Equality

21.12.2020

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health encourages civil society to participate in the preparation of the equality policy report by expressing views on what an equal Finland would look like.
Finland strengthens economy of wellbeing approach by joining Wellbeing Economy Governments network

21.12.2020

Finland will join the global Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) network. The informal network currently comprises Scotland, Wales, Iceland and New Zealand. The Organisation for Economic...
Aino-Kaisa Pekonen
First doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be administered in Finland possibly on 27 December

18.12.2020

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health predicts that the first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arrive in Finland already over Christmas. Finland prepares to start vaccinations alongside...
The Equal Pay Programme of the Government and central labour market organisations has been published

18.12.2020

The Government and central labour market organisations have negotiated joint equal pay measures for the period 2020–2023. The Equal Pay Programme aims to reduce the average pay gap between women...
Thomas Blomqvist
Alarming increase in infections among older adults

17.12.2020

The number of new coronavirus infections is still at a high level, and community transmission is common in different age groups across Finland. It is alarming that more and more infections are...
Coronavirus infections still at an alarming level across the country

10.12.2020

The number of new coronavirus infections is still at a high level and a number of regions are in the community transmission phase. It is possible that the epidemic will take a sudden turn for the...
Restrictions imposed on food and beverage service businesses to continue until 28 February 2021 – restrictions also introduced in Lapland

10.12.2020

The Government issued a new decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses owing to the COVID-19 epidemic.
2020 VN
Amendments to Communicable Diseases Act to Parliament - more means to curb the coronavirus situation

10.12.2020

The Government has submitted a proposal on amending the Communicable Diseases Act. The aim is to strengthen the possibilities of local and regional authorities to take proactive and swift measures...
Government proposal for health and social services reform and related legislation proceeds to Parliament

8.12.2020

The Government proposes that wellbeing services counties be established and healthcare, social welfare and rescue services be reformed. The proposed counties would be established as soon as...
2020 2020
Tighter restrictions on restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses in several regions due to COVID-19

3.12.2020

Starting from 5 December, restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, Kymenlaakso and North Ostrobothnia, which are in the community...
Coronavirus situation worsening quickly across Finland

3.12.2020

The coronavirus situation is rapidly worsening in Finland. Over the past two weeks, the number and incidence of cases has risen sharply in almost all regions. This development calls for an...
EU ministers to discuss working conditions in platform economy and gender equality

3.12.2020

The EU employment and social affairs ministers will hold an informal video meeting on 3 December 2020. Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen will participate in the meeting, which will consider...
Thomas Blomqvist Tuula Haatainen
COVID-19 epidemic worsening — text message alert to remind public of regional guidelines

2.12.2020

In the past few weeks, the COVID-19 epidemic has worsened almost everywhere in Finland. Because the situation varies from region to region, the recommendations and restrictions may also vary.