Finland has begun requiring people arriving from Norway, Denmark or Britain take Covid tests at the border, regardless of vaccination status. The requirement entered into force immediately on Thursday afternoon.
Finland also recommends that people coming from those countries take a pre-departure Covid test within 48 hours of their journey.
In addition to these new rules, the government meets on Thursday to rubberstamp a plan to demand pre-departure Covid tests, which must be no older than 48 hours, from people travelling to Finland from non-Schengen countries.
Once approved, that rule is to come into effect from next Tuesday.
Family Affairs and Social Services minister Krista Kiuru (SDP) and Interior Minister Krista Mikkonen (Green) announced the Schengen area decisions earlier this week.
The Ministry for Social Affairs and Health has sent new instructions to the regions on slowing the spread of the more infectious Omicron variant. It is scheduled to hold a press briefing on Thursday evening.
They are planning to ask municipalities with border crossings to direct travellers from Britain, Norway, Denmark and Nigeria to compulsory health examinations if they cannot show a negative test result no older than 48 hours.
This will apply to vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Finnish citizens and those with permanent residence permits cannot be prevented from entering the country, however.
THL recommended these measures to the ministry based on infection rates in those countries. The agency also said that Sweden should be included in the measures, as the Omicron variant is certain to spread there quickly from Denmark.
TetraSys Oy.