Finland

26.03.2020

On 26 March 2020, the Government issued a decree on extending the driving times and shortening the rest periods of drivers of buses and heavy goods vehicles due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The exemption would be applied to road transport from 27 March to 25 April 2020, allowing a shortening of the daily rest period of drivers to 9 hours and weekly rest period to 24 hours. The Government also proposes that the required minimum rest period of 45 minutes be allowed to be more freely split into periods of 15 and 30 minutes within a period of four and a half hours.

The full press release can be found here.

Source: Ministry of Transport and Communications

The Finnish Government is restricting traffic at borders from 19 March 2020, 00:00. People returning to Finland will be subject to 14 days quarantine.

Inbound passenger transport operations are suspended, except for citizens and residents returning to Finland. Finnish citizens and residents must not travel abroad.

Necessary travel for work and to access other necessary services will be permitted across the northern and western borders. Freight and goods traffic will continue as usual. Updated situation at borders:

• Helsinki–Vantaa, Mariehamn and Turku airportswill be kept open for goods and return traffic. Border guards may allow travel for work if there is a necessary and justified reason. Other airports will be closed to international traffic.
• At the international border crossing points of the eastern border, traffic and opening hours will be restricted.
• Passenger traffic via the Vainikkalaborder crossing point will be suspended.
•  Road and rail transport:

• Imatra, Kuusamo, Niirala, Nuijamaa, Rajajooseppi, Salla, Vaalimaa and Vartius border crossing points are only for goods transport, and returning home to/from/via Finland for Finnish and other EU citizens as well as citizens of the Russian Federation.
• Inari, Parikkala and Vainikkala border crossing points are only for goods transport.

• At the border between Finland and Norway, Kilpisjärvi, Karigasniemi, Kivilompolo, Nuorgam, Näätämö and Utsjoki will be kept open for goods and return traffic. In addition, necessary travel for work and other necessary traffic may be permitted. Crossing the border is not permitted elsewhere.
• At the Finnish–Swedish border, Karesuvanto, Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tornio and Ylitornio will be kept open for goods and return traffic. In addition, necessary travel for work and other necessary traffic may be permitted. Crossing the border is not permitted elsewhere.

Although cross border commuting is not prevented, the reduction in air and sea traffic will make it significantly more difficult for foreign workers to enter Finland from abroad. In the case of EU citizens and people with a permanent residence permit in another EU country who are returning to their home country via Finland, such travel will be allowed, taking into account the person's state of health.

Detailed measures are available here.

Source: FinMobility