Government amends the restrictions on restaurants again because of the shifting pandemic situation.
The government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Satakunta moves to the Covid-19 community transmission phase.
The decree will enter into force on August 15.
Restrictions on restaurants businesses in the regions and cities that are at the community transmission phase of the pandemic—Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso and Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen from August 14 and Satakunta from August 15:
Restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 07:00 and 22:00 and be open between 05:00 and 23:00.
Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages are restricted to only half of their normal number of customer seats. This applies not only to indoor areas but also, as a new restriction, to outdoor areas. Other food and beverage service businesses are restricted to 75 percent of their normal number of customer seats indoors and outdoors.
All customers must have their own seat at a table or similar in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
In indoor spaces, customers will be directed to sit in their seats. Businesses must draw up and provide their customers with instructions on how to enter or leave the premises or access the area designated for smoking or the toilets and washing facilities and how to collect their takeaway orders of food and drinks. In practice, for example, dancing and karaoke are not allowed.
Restrictions on restaurants in the regions and cities that are at the acceleration phase of the pandemic—Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, South Karelia, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, and the city of Rovaniemi and those parts of Uusimaa that are outside Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen from 14 August and Satakunta until August 14, 2021:
Restaurants businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 07:00 and 00:00 and be open between 05:00 and 01:00.
Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages are restricted to half of their normal number of customer seats indoors. Other food and beverage service business are restricted to 75 percent of their normal number of customer seats indoors.
As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors. The number of customer seats in outdoor terraces is not limited.
Restrictions on restaurants of Åland, South Savo and Lapland, excluding the city of Rovaniemi, from August 14:
No separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.
An exception to this applies to food and beverage service businesses in Åland. These businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 07:00 and 00:00 and be open between 05:00 and 01:00.
As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors.
