The restrictions imposed on the activities of restaurants, bars, pubs and other food and beverage businesses will be eased throughout Finland from Thursday.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the government has amended the decree restricting these activities.
The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 13 May at 00.00.
The regional restrictions on restaurants and bars will be updated weekly to correspond to the prevailing epidemiological situation.
Stable level areas
The following restrictions for areas that are at a stable level apply to the the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savo, Ostrobothnia and Satakunta and the Hospital District of Lapland from 13 May.
- Restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open to customers between 5.00 and 1.00.
- Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. In other restaurants, 75 per cent of customer seats may be in use in indoor premises. The restrictions on the number of customer seats do not apply in Åland.
- In these regions, restaurants must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited in indoor premises.
- On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.
Acceleration phase areas
The restrictions for areas that are in the acceleration phase apply to the regions Kanta-Häme, Central Ostrobothnia, Kymenlaakso and Pirkanmaa and the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja from 13 May.
- Restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 22.00 and be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments.
- In these regions, restaurants must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited in indoor premises.
- On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.
Community transmission areas
The following restrictions for areas in the community transmission phase apply to the regions of Päijät-Häme, South Karelia, Southwest Finland and Uusimaa from 13 May.
- Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may be open between 7.00 and 18.00. Other restaurants may be open between 5.00 and 19.00. They may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises.
- Other restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 19.00 and be open between 5.00 and 20.00. They may have in use 75 per cent of their normal number of customers seats in indoor premises.
- The restaurants located in these areas must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited.
- On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The above-mentioned customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.
The Government will carry out the next review of the restrictions, particularly of those for the community transmission phase, by 27 May.
