Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses to continue until end of year
The Government has extended the validity of the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses until 31 December 2021. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be reintroduced in the regions of North Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa and Kanta-Häme and in the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja.
The degree will enter into force 15 November 2021. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be introduced to the new regions on 17 November 2021.
Last week, the Government decided that areas are no longer classified into different phases based on their epidemiological situation. Instead, a system of epidemiological characteristics for community transmission areas has been created that is better suited to the current situation. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare will publish information on the areas that meet these epidemiological characteristics on its website starting on 15 November.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Päijät-Häme, Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa, Uusimaa, Kymenlaakso and Kanta-Häme and in the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja, which are all community transmission areas, from 17 November
Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.
Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have only half the normal number of customer seats in use in their indoor and outdoor premises. Other food and beverage service are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats indoors.
All customers must have their own seats at a table or similar in indoor premises.
Businesses who require all customers to present a COVID-19 passport are exempt from the restrictions.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses elsewhere in Finland from 17 November
There are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.
The obligation to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance applies in all regions.
Exceptions to restrictions remain unchanged
The restrictions laid down in the decree do not apply to the activities of staff restaurants or to takeaway sales of food to customers. The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distribution stations for liquid fuels.
Inquiries:
Ismo Tuominen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@gov.fi
The Regional State Administrative Agencies will answer questions concerning the practical implementation of the restrictions.