Changes in the travel advice for areas in Finland

Based on the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s weekly assessment of the Covid-19 situation, the Government has decided to change the status of these four areas in Finland from ‘yellow’ to ‘red’ on the map showing the status for quarantine on entry to Norway from Europe. From midnight on Friday 30 October, anyone arriving in Norway from these countries and regions will be required to go into quarantine for 10 days. See the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for more information.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has recommended removing the quarantine requirement for travellers from the following six hospital districts in Finland: the Central Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Etelä-Savo Hospital District, Lappi Hospital District, Länsi-Pohja Hospital District, North Karelia Hospital District and South Ostrobothnia Hospital District. These areas will therefore be excepted from the Ministry’s global travel advice, and will change from ‘red’ to ‘yellow’ on the map showing the status for quarantine on entry to Norway from Europe.   

The Ministry advises against non-essential travel to the following countries and regions in the Schengen area/EEA: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the Vatican State, and certain regions and areas in Denmark and Finland. This means that all of Europe outside the Nordic region is now ‘red’ on the map showing the status for quarantine on entry to Norway from Europe. See the list published on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

These changes will apply from midnight on Friday 30 October. The infection situation and local restrictions can both change very quickly. Anyone who is considering travelling abroad should think carefully about whether it is necessary for them to travel, and make sure that they know what the situation is in the country they are planning to visit.

People who have returned to Norway from a country that becomes ‘red’ after their return must monitor their health for symptoms of Covid-19. It is very important that they get themselves tested if they experience any symptoms, and that they practise good hand hygiene and maintain a distance of at least one metre from other people.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining its global advice against non-essential travel to all countries apart from those for which an exception has been made. This travel advice currently applies until 15 January 2021. For an updated overview of countries in the Schengen area/EEA and the Nordic countries and regions that are excepted from the travel advice, see the Institute of Public Health’s map showing the status for quarantine on entry to Norway from Europe and the Ministry’s travel information.

The Government has also changed the rules relating to duty of quarantine for foreign workers. For more information, see the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.