The Regional State Administrative Agency (Avi) of Southern Finland has decided to extend restrictions and closures of public spaces in the Uusimaa region, which includes Helsinki, for at least another two weeks. The hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) has Finland's worst Covid situation, driven by explosive spread of the Omicron variant.
The current closure decision was valid until Monday 10 January, but the restrictions will now be extended until at least 24 January.
A separate restriction on indoor events in the Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) hospital district is likewise being continued. The current decision is valid until 17 January, and the Avi said on Wednesday that it would "probably" also be extended for two weeks, i.e. until 31 January.
The decisions were made in accordance with the recommendations by the Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group, which includes officials from the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare+ (THL) and the HUS hospital district.
The current closure decisions have been extended to all premises covered by section 58g of the Communicable Diseases Act. Closures include facilities for group exercise and other close-contact activities such as gyms, indoor playgrounds, spas, swimming pools and dance venues, as well as public areas of shopping malls.
According to Avi, restrictions cannot be relaxed because the worsening pandemic situation is threatening the carrying capacity of the healthcare system. Tracing of infection chains has been abandoned in the Helsinki metropolitan area, and Covid testing is severely backlogged.
Closures in Häme, Pirkanmaa and Lapland
Facilities have also been ordered to be temporarily closed in the Kanta-Häme and Päijät-Häme regions of south-central Finland, including the cities of Hämeenlinna and Lahti. In addition, there are restrictions on gatherings in all hospital districts in Southern Finland.
Earlier this week, both the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Uusimaa coronavirus coordination groups asked the Southern Finland Avi for the two-week extension of the existing ban on indoor public events and closures of public spaces.
Health authorities said at a press briefing earlier on Wednesday that there are no signs of improvement on the horizon, at least in the coming weeks.
Helsinki announced earlier on Wednesday that it will step up its readiness level, with measures such as opening a backup hospital.
Meanwhile the Avi for Western and Inland Finland said on Wednesday that it will make an announcement on Friday about new restrictions for the Pirkanmaa region, which includes the city of Tampere. The measures concerning gatherings and the closure of premises will cover the 8-21 January period.
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland is also considering the continuation and possible tightening of the current restrictions, which are in force until 22 January.