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Action plan to manage the COVID-19 crisis aims to keep society open

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Publication date 9.9.2021 14.30
Press release 252/2021

On Thursday 9 September, the Government issued a resolution on an update of the action plan implementing the hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 epidemic. The objective of the revised action plan is to reopen society and keep it open. 

According to the action plan, immediate measures will be taken to gradually dismantle the restrictions and recommendations. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will issue a circular to specify how the gradual implementation of the action plan will be carried out.

The aim is to dismantle the nationwide restrictions and comprehensive recommendations when at least 80 per cent of people over 12 years of age have been vaccinated twice or they have been offered the opportunity to get vaccinated twice.

The revised action plan will remain in force until further notice and it will be updated as necessary.

Local measures to control the epidemic – phases of the epidemic and the related recommendations to be abandoned 

In future, further spread of the COVID-19 epidemic will be prevented primarily through local and regional measures.  

As a rule, society will be kept open and there will be no restrictions on any activities in society. If restrictions are needed to suppress a cluster of infections, they will be targeted very carefully. 

As the last resort, municipalities, hospital districts and the Regional State Administrative Agencies could impose very carefully selected, targeted and short-term restrictions on high-risk events and activities. 

The action plan emphasises that the primacy of the best interests of the child will continue to be implemented in all decision-making. In addition, any restrictions should treat different sectors as equitably as possible.  

If the epidemiological situation suddenly deteriorated, more extensive nationwide measures could be reintroduced.  In such a case, the Government would issue a resolution on the adoption of the national emergency brake mechanism.

Inquiries

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Director of Strategic Affairs
Pasi Pohjola, Director
Satu Koskela, Director General
Jaska Siikavirta, Director
Taneli Puumalainen, Director General
[email protected]