Finland received 10,600 Estonian visitors in the third week of March only, a hundred fewer than in the second week of March.
About half, or more precisely 45 percent, of the Estonian travelers who came to Finland last week were logistics workers such as transport companies. Of these, around 15 percent provided essential services and another 15 percent were Finnish citizens.
The Finnish government allows cross-border commuting, especially for key workers. However, non-essential travel is currently prohibited even if the person from another country presents a negative COVID-19 test. SchengenVisaInfo.com Reports.
The port of Helsinki has received between 10,000 and 13,000 visitors from Estonia every week since January 2021. Due to the daily shuttles between Finland and Estonia, the Finnish authorities need to coordinate the schedule to facilitate border control.
In addition, over 5,200 passengers from Schengen and non-Schengen countries came to Finland via Helsinki Airport in the third week of March 2021.
Previously on March 11th, The Finnish government decided to extend its entry restrictions until April 17, 2021to contain the spread of the new variants of the virus and control the entire COVID-19 situation.
The Finnish Ministry of the Interior also announced that it would continue to help Estonia. In accordance with the ongoing proceedings, the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District has informed passengers in the port of Tallinn of the entry restrictions since September 2020 so that they are not turned away at the Finnish border.
On the other hand, the ministry announced that entry was restricted to all non-Schengen countries and some other non-EU countries with the exception of Iceland.
The group of countries prohibited from entering Finland includes Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal , Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The restrictions on the Vatican, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand have already been lifted.
“The opening times of certain border crossings on the western border in Lapland and on the eastern border will be restricted. The aim of these changes is to concentrate cross-border traffic mainly in the daytime and evening hours. This will ensure that the health authorities at the border have sufficient resources, ”added the Home Office.
In addition, the Ministry stressed that all Finnish citizens have the right to contact the country at any time and that everyone has the right to leave Finland if they so wish. However, the government suggests avoiding unnecessary travel.
