THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT on Wednesday met at the House of the Estates in Helsinki to discuss the new coronavirus variants, measures required to contain them and the situation in the events industry.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) reminded that the British coronavirus variant has already been detected in Finland.
“My view is that the risk factors [with the variant] are big,” she was quoted as saying ahead of the negotiations by Helsingin Sanomat. “We’d rather take action earlier and more determinedly. Now is at least not the time to start relaxing these restrictions. It’s possible that the restrictions could be stepped up.”
It is possible, she added, that the more transmissible variant made its way to the country already before its discovery was reported in December.
Marin also expressed her support for the hardline border policy approach adopted by the government in response to the pandemic, underlining that testing must be adopted at all border-crossing points.
The emergency powers act was not on the agenda of the meeting, according to the prime minister. A decision on the emergency powers may have to be made if health authorities consider the risks big enough.
“I don’t want to rule out anything,” told Marin.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
