Finland considers introduction of emergency break during Christmas

With Finland experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, health officials will decide whether introducing a so-called “emergency brake” will be necessary in the coming days.

An official of the social and health ministry interviewed by Iltalehti has said that the key criteria for introducing the emergency brake have already been met. As such, new preventive measures and the tightening of existing measures are on the table.

On the line would be low-risk activities that have been accessible to fully vaccinated people using a COVID passport. There may also be a return to remote learning and strict border controls where passengers would be required to present two negative COVID-19 test results.

The situation is particularly concerning in Lapland, where Christmas is the peak tourist season. Foreign tourists are advised to get adequate travel insurance. Those testing positive face a ten-day quarantine, but fully-booked hotels may not be prepared for longer stays.

While customers are in principle responsible for finding temporary accommodation, hotels and local authorities have promised assistance. A flight home remains the responsibility of tourists, however.

By the end of last week, around 35 foreign nationals in the Lapland Hospital District tested positive for COVID-19.

By comparison, a small return to normality could be seen on Sunday (19 December) as the Allegro train connecting Helsinki and St. Petersburg started running after an 18-month hiatus. Due to the situation in Russia, only Russians who are visiting for essential reasons or who have received an EU or a WHO-approved vaccine are allowed to travel. The Russian Sputnik vaccine does not qualify.

(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)