A loud voice and two meters distance apply when the people of Haparanda and Torneå want to meet and talk.

- It's fine. You are allowed to talk but not to cross some boundaries. I am here almost every day, says Jussi Kannisto, resident in Tornio.

A kilometer-long steel fence separates the cities since the Finnish government closed the border. This has been the case since 19 March.

Meet at the fence 

But it prevents people from meeting each other at the fence that now separates Sweden and Finland. Some times it can be really full of people. Guards on the Finnish side make sure the two meter rules are followed. On the Finnish side, there is also a plastic band stretched two meters from the steel fence - here but no longer is what applies.

- I wanted some Finnish newspapers to read but it was not possible. That was not allowed to be transmitted, says Sinnika Pellikka from Haparanda.

What will you do to open the border?

- Ride a bike over to Haparanda and see how the Swedes live. So I also have to buy fallow sausage with me. I miss that a lot here in Finland, says Jussi Kannisto from Tornio.