Finland extends restaurant closures until 18 April

Finland decided on Sunday to extend restaurant closures to customers for another three weeks until April 18 in most parts of the country.

The decision was made by the Helsinki Parliament (Eduskunta) in its session on Sunday and affects all restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs in 15 regions of the country, in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The lock also applies to terraces. However, restaurants are still allowed to sell takeaway food. 

With this decision, the Nordic country extends a closure measure that in principle was due to expire on Sunday. It applies to all the provinces and municipalities where the Covid-19 disease is still spreading.

The affected regions:

Restaurants and other food and beverage businesses must remain closed in the following regions and municipalities:

1. Uusimaa.
2. Southwest Finland.
3. Satakunta.
4. Kanta-Häme.
5. Pirkanmaa.
6. Päijät-Häme.
7. Kymenlaakso.
8. South Karelia.
9. Southern Savonia.
10. Northern Savonia.
11. North Karelia.
12. Central Finland.
13. Ostrobothnia.
14. Northern Ostrobothnia.
15. Kittilä.

The closure does not affect bars and restaurants in the Åland archipelago, Southern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia and Kainuu.

Restaurants may be open in the region of Lapland, with the exception of the municipality of Kittilä.