Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) spoke to reporters outside the House of the Estates in Helsinki on Wednesday, 25 November 2020. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT convened yesterday to discuss the circumstances in which the emergency powers act could be invoked to manage the coronavirus epidemic, agreeing that it is not yet necessary to declare a state of emergency to gain access to the powers granted in the act.

“I don’t see that we’re yet in such a situation,” Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) told YLE outside the House of the Estates in Helsinki.

Rail passengers on a platform at Helsinki Central Station on 28 September 2020. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

THE CORONAVIRUS COORDINATION GROUP for Uusimaa is proposing that the restrictions and recommendations outlined earlier this week be introduced across what is the most populated region of Finland.

Markku Mäkijärvi, the chief medical officer at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), told YLE on Wednesday that the time to take action against the virus is now.

In a recently published press release, Finnish Customs announced that their laboratory found five out of the nine extra virgin olive oils they tested did not meet European quality standards.

According to the Director of Laboratory at Finnish Customs Pirjo Saino, extra virgin olive oil is of the highest quality. The oil must be flawless and possess fruity organoleptic characteristics. “Virgin olive oil, on the other hand, may have some sensory defects, albeit very minor ones,” she says.

Led by Annika Saarikko, the Centre Party would receive 11.7 per cent of the popular vote if the parliamentary elections were held today, shows a poll by Helsingin Sanomat. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

THE POWER BALANCE between Finnish political parties has remained all but unchanged in recent weeks, suggests a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat.

The most notable positive change from the previous month was registered by the Centre Party, which saw its popularity creep up by 0.5 percentage points to 11.7 per cent and consequently held on to its status as the fourth most popular party in Finland.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.