In a sign of the adjustments being made in Europe, Finland is expected to be the next EU country to open up even to high-risk Covid countries such as the US.
The country is about to introduce mandatory screening regulations in October, meaning that even others from countries with much higher infection rates will be welcome.
Finland will soon “relax the restrictions” and “implement a test-based program,” reports public broadcaster YLE.
“Soon you can imagine a trip to Finland from more countries, but mandatory coronavirus screening is likely to be introduced,” he says.
The strategy is now shown through government.
“The Finnish government on Thursday will reduce its restrictions on cross-border travel,” the Helsinki Times reports.
The regulation will enter into force on 14 September. But everyone will be welcome from the beginning.
Finns or foreigners arriving from Schengen countries with 25 cases or less consistent with another 100,000 people in the last 15 weeks are no longer subject to mandatory testing or quarantine.
So far, quarantine has been required for places with at least 8 cases consisting of 100,000 inhabitants. The government has also opposed all the must-have destinations where Covid’s occurrence is more consistent than its own, lately at 8. 5 consistent with 100,000.
This excludes tourism even for many low-risk European neighbours, as well as high-risk red zones.
Finland will increase the threshold for Covid infection until October, to allow visits worldwide.
The plan is the arrival of new legislation to comply with a “test access model,” Helsinki Times reports.
For travelers from countries with Covid infection rates over 25/100,000, a negative result will be required upon arrival.
According to Reuters, travelers will need to remain remote until they produce a negative test at one point.
According to the ECDC, the United States averages more than 120 cases in line with 100,000, above the Finnish and European criteria.
The EU encourages its members to open borders to countries with no more than 25 to 50 coronavirus consisting of 100,000 inhabitants.
For “red zones” above this level, he says, member countries propose quarantine. And that turns out to be precisely what Finland has in mind.
Finland’s Transport Minister Timo Harakka said an invoice will make evidence of a negative crown mandatory for passengers in red zones.
Most Baltic and Nordic countries are exempt from the rule.
Economy Minister Mika Lintil announced this step as good news for leisure and business, and for the tourism industry.
“I’m sorry it took so long, but more late than ever, ” he said. “Finnair will now return to the competitive market where it is with its European competitors. “
However, some tour operators are very excited.
“Air ticket 190, check Covid 210,” tweeted Lapland SantaPark businessman Ilkka Lonkinen, who fears the prohibitive charge is winter tourism.
However, many, adding the Finnish government, believe that Covid’s evidence is the only thing that will make the complete reopening of EU borders imaginable.
“The goal is to make tourism in Finland imaginable and safe for health,” Harakka said.
Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo said internal controls at Schengen borders would remain until the legislation was enacted.
In the midst of a marked setback of the European Covid over the next month, some wonder whether borders have opened too quickly.
Croatia, an EU member who is not yet a member of Schengen, has officially welcomed US citizens and others since early July. Test needs are higher as the crown instances soared. Malta was the first EU-Schengen member to open up to all in August.
It remains to be noted now how many make the decision to take the Finnish leadership, to resurrect also the component of the winter tourist season, after suffering a grim summer of Covid.
I have 3 decades of experience as a journalist, foreign correspondent and writer-photographer, working for print, virtual and radio media on 4 continents,
I have 3 decades of experience as a journalist, foreign correspondent and travel writer-photographer. Working for print, virtual and radio media on 4 continents, I am also an experienced hotel journalist and writer of travel guides and cultural stories in Australia, France. , Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Borneo. Very on the road between my Parisian and Australian bases, I write for Forbes with a globetrotting attitude and a topicality in travel, culture, hospitality, art and architecture. My hobby is to capture the unique people, situations and occasions I encounter along the way, whether in words or images. I have a degree in professional writing from the University of Canberra, a master’s degree in European journalism from Robert Schuman University in Strasbourg and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers: Love for My Wild Local Island of Tasmania fuels my commitment to sustainable travel and conservation.