The decree will enter into force on Sunday, August 22, 2021.
The government amends the restrictions on restaurants because of the shifting pandemic situation. Here’s what’s happening beginning on August 22, 2021:
The restrictions for the community transmission phase will enter into force in the entire Uusimaa region and South Karelia. The Hospital District of South Savo is moving to the acceleration phase of the pandemic.
In Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso, Uusimaa, Satakunta and South Karelia, restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 07:00 and 22:00 and be open between 05:00 and 23:00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have only half the normal number of customer seats in use in their indoor and outdoor premises. 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 seat at a table or similar in both indoor and outdoor premises.
Customers are instructed to stay seated at indoor premises.
In addition, 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. Dancing and karaoke are banned.
In Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, and in the Hospital District of South Savo and the city of Rovaniemi, restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 07:00 and 00:00 and be open between 05:00 and 01:00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have half the normal number of customer seats in use in indoor premises. Other food and beverage service businesses may seat 75 percent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments. As before, all customers must have their seat by a table or counter when indoors. The number of customer seats in outdoor terraces is not limited. Dancing and karaoke are banned.
In Åland, these businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 07:00 and 00:00 and be open between 05:00 and 01:00.
There are no restrictions in place for restaurants in East Savo and the region of Lapland. (Excluding, Rovaniemi as mentioned above.)
The obligation to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance applies in all regions.
