The Finnish Government has decided to extend the deadline for all existing measures from 13 April to 13 May. Among other things, it is about distance education, except for the smallest children, and blocking off the province of Uusimaa where Helsinki is located.

In addition, new restrictions are being introduced: All restaurants, cafes and bars will be closed from Monday evening until 31 May. All passenger traffic with ferries to and from the country is stopped, and the possibility of crossing land borders to Norway and Sweden is further restricted.

The message was given at a press conference on Monday evening where the four government parties' party leaders participated.

The measures must be approved by the Riksdag, but there the government parties have their own majority.

Frederiksen: The measures work

In Copenhagen, the noises were different when Prime Minister Mette Fredreriksen (S) held a press conference earlier in the day.

- The measures we have taken are working. The first sign is that from the day we shut down, the infection of normal flu has stopped, she said, according to the Ritzau news agency.

If the figures are stable, the government will initiate an opening of society after Easter, Frederiksen promised. It should be done "gradually, carefully and controlled," she said.

However, if the Danes begin to meet again and do not keep their distance, the measures could instead be tightened, the prime minister warned.