The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) has abandoned a task force appointed to mull over means to increase wage transparency in Finland. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

THE CONFEDERATION of Finnish Industries (EK) on Monday announced it will surrender its seat on a tripartite task force appointed to promote the transparency of salary information and reduce wage inequality in Finland.

The task force was scheduled to convene at 2pm on Monday.

Viking Grace ran aground in strong winds about 500 metres south of the Port of Mariehamn on Saturday, 21 November 2020. (Niclas Nordlund – Lehtikuva)

VIKING GRACE arrived at the Port of Turku on Sunday evening after running aground in windy conditions close to the Port of Mariehamn, Åland Islands, on Saturday.

The passenger ferry began its journey with approximately 260 passengers and most of the crew on board shortly after 1pm on Sunday, after authorities had determined that the ferry had sustained no major damage in the accidental grounding and journey presented no safety risks.

Spectators donning face masks at a basketball game between Seagulls and KTP-Basket in Helsinki on 13 November 2020. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

MORE THAN 70 PER CENT of Finns are using face masks on public transport and in other public places where avoiding close contact with others is impossible in accordance with the recommendation of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), finds a survey commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat.

Face masks have been adopted especially by the elderly, with 89 per cent of over 70-year-olds and an almost equivalent share of 60–69-year-olds saying they wear a mask.

Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori and CEO of HUS Juha Tuominen talked at a press conference about the coronavirus situation in the capital region in Helsinki City Hall on Tuesday, 24 November 2020. (Vesa Moilanen – Lehtikuva)

THE CITY OF HELSINKI is drafting widespread restrictions on social activities in collaboration with the rest of the capital region of Finland.

Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday revealed that the city is set to completely shut down public spaces such as libraries, sports facilities and swimming pools in order to rein in the sharp increase in new coronavirus infections.

Mika Salminen, the director of health security at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), has stated that the expert organisation found it difficult to make policy-makers recognise the threat posed by the coronavirus outbreak in January and February. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

PRIME MINISTER Sanna Marin (SDP) has stated that she has no recollection of the government being urged to take action to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus early this year by the Finnish Institute for Health Welfare (THL).

Mika Salminen, the director of health security at THL, claimed in a recent guest contribution that it was difficult to make the government and officials recognise the threat posed by the outbreak.

Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo (Greens) met members of the media in the main reception room of the Parliament House in Helsinki on Thursday, 19 November. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT has decided to uphold its entry restrictions until 13 December, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

Cross-border travel and internal border controls were the main items on the agenda as the government met yesterday to, effectively, decide on how easy it will be to enter Finland from other parts of the European Union, Schengen Area and United Kingdom.

Marin visiting Google's data centre in Hamina on 20 Nov. 2020 / Lehtikuva

The BBC has revealed the names of the trailblazing women on this year’s 100 Women List, celebrating inspirational and influential women from across the globe – from high profile names to unsung heroes.

In a year of unprecedented turbulence, this year’s theme is ‘How Women-Led Change in 2020’ and celebrates some of the scientists, public health experts, and healthcare workers who have helped us weather the storm

Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori (NCP) spoke in a press conference held by the coronavirus coordination group for the Finnish capital region in Helsinki on Friday, 20 November 2020. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

THE CORONAVIRUS COORDINATION GROUP for Greater Helsinki on Friday announced new restrictions, recommendations and other measures to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus in Uusimaa, the most populated region in Finland.

The most tangible restriction is the banning of all public events with over 20 attendees in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) between 23 November and 13 December.

Lasse Lehtonen, the director of diagnostics at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, on Thursday said Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen are in the spreading stage of the coronavirus epidemic. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

FOUR MUNICIPALITIES in the Finnish capital region have moved to the spreading stage of the coronavirus epidemic, Lasse Lehtonen, the director of diagnostics at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), revealed on Thursday.

“By this, we mean Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, as well as Kauniainen,” he specified.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) was photographed visiting the data centre of Google in Hamina, Southern Finland, on Friday, 20 November 2020. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT is expected to introduce restrictions to the operations of so-called night cafés as soon as this week, reports YLE.

The public broadcasting company wrote yesterday that the government will today present a decree limiting the opening hours of night cafés and other restaurants to 5am to 11pm in response to concerns the new operating model has kindled especially in Uusimaa, the most populated region of Finland.

Most extra virgin olive oil does not meet EU requirements, according to new research by the Finnish Customs Laboratory. In a press release, customs revealed that the laboratory tested nine different varieties of extra virgin olive oil this year, and over half failed to comply with quality standards. 

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and Taneli Puumalainen of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) provided an update of the coronavirus situation in Finland in Helsinki on Thursday, 19 November 2020. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

OFFICIALS from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday confirmed that the number of new coronavirus infections is increasing in Finland.

The number of new infections, they warned, is presently so high that the epidemiological situation can deteriorate rapidly in all parts of the country.

Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru (SDP) spoke at a press conference in Helsinki on 29 October 2020. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES from Uusimaa have been invited to discuss possible additional measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus in the most populated region of Finland by Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru (SDP), reports Helsingin Sanomat.

Kiuru told the newspaper yesterday that the teleconference will take place at 11am on Tuesday.

Installation view of “Moomin Original” at Ground Seesaw Seongsu, northern Seoul (Media & Art)

 International news outlets this week highlighted how Finnish citizens have adapted well to social distancing, attributing their positive attitude towards isolation to a culture that values personal space. 

The Finn’s natural propensity for solitude, coupled with the country’s low population density and remote location has aided in its fight against COVID-19. 

According to Finnish police, the country has seen an unprecedented rise in cases of domestic violence during the pandemic. While current restrictions have resulted in fewer outbreaks of violent behaviour in public spaces, physical violence within the home has taken a darker turn, with increasing instances of aggravated assault and even homicide.