The Finnish government will decide on new restrictions on Wednesday or Thursday of the week and the proposals include closing the border and requiring mandatory covid tests for those who want to enter the country.
Only business trips
One of the explanations for the Finnish concern is the rapid increase in covid-infected people in Haparanda, but the mutated variants of the virus are also included in the discussion.
That is why the political leaderships of Haparanda and Tornio have done something in common and are now urging their citizens to refrain from unnecessary travel across the border.
- Let us limit the trips on a voluntary basis and refrain from unnecessary trips.
The only necessary trip right now is a business trip, says Sven Tornberg.
"We have not taken care of ourselves"
He is worried, both about the plans to close the border and the rapid spread of infection in Haparanda.
- We have very many infected cases here in the municipality.
We have had three weeks in a row with increases and it is simply that we in Haparanda have not taken care of ourselves during the Christmas and New Year weekend.
But have you taken care of yourself before?
- Yes, we have done that, but I think that a combination of the discussion about vaccines and a rather great boredom and sadness over the current situation means that you may have relaxed and not kept your distance as you did before.