Measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus are being extended and expanded in Finland. In Denmark, the government is also opening up for relaxations after Easter – if residents continue to behave. 

The Finnish government has decided to extend the end date for all current measures from April 13 to May 13. These include distance learning, except for the youngest children, and the closure of the Uusimaa region where Helsinki is located.

In addition, new restrictions are being introduced: All restaurants, cafes and bars will be closed from Monday evening until May 31. All passenger ferry traffic to and from the country will be stopped, and the possibility of crossing the land borders to Norway and Sweden will be further restricted.

The announcement was made at a press conference on Monday evening, attended by the party leaders of the four governing parties.  

The measures must be approved by the Riksdag, but the government parties have their own majority there.

Frederiksen: The measures are working

In Copenhagen, the tone was different when Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) held a press conference earlier in the day.

"The measures we have taken are working. The first sign is that from the day we closed down, the transmission of common influenza has been stopped," she said, according to the Ritzau news agency.

If the numbers are stable, the government will begin to open up society after Easter, Frederiksen promised. It will be done ”gradually, carefully and in a controlled manner,” she said.

If, however, Danes start meeting again and do not keep their distance, the measures could instead be tightened, the Prime Minister warned.

Source: svt.se