The Uusimaa region's Covid-19 coordination group has recommended that ongoing epidemic-related restrictions should be extended in the region for an additional two weeks.
The expert group's recommendation is headed to the Regional State Administrative Agency (Avi) of Southern Finland, the authority responsible for implementing such restrictions at the regional level.
On Monday, the Helsinki metropolitan area coronavirus coordination group made similar recommendations to extend restrictions by two weeks.
Due to ongoing Covid-related restrictions in Uusimaa, public events and indoor gatherings are not permitted until the rules are set to expire on 17 January. Meanwhile, indoor sporting facilities, public swimming pools and saunas, as well as gyms and similar facilities, have been shut down until 10 January.
The coordination group recommended on Wednesday that those end-dates be extended by two weeks.
As they currently stand, the restrictions would not affect hobby activities for kids born in 2003 or later.
Congested healthcare sector
According to the coordination group, rising Covid cases have jeopardised the abilities of primary and specialised healthcare providers, saying that there was no sign of improvement on the horizon, at least in the coming weeks.
It noted that infection chain tracing in the metropolitan area had ceased and that Covid testing centres were severely congested.
"The sharp rise in the number of infections poses serious challenges to the healthcare sector as well as other, key sectors of society. Therefore, such restrictive measures are needed," said Veli-Matti Ulander, chief medical officer at the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district.
The group also underscored the importance of increasing the Covid vaccination coverage among the population.