Finland closes schools, declares state of emergency over coronavirus

The Finnish government announced on Monday nationwide school closures in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Starting on Wednesday, schools will be shut until 13 April. Parents in jobs critical to the functioning of society who have children in grades 1-3 can send their children to specially-arranged care.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced the move at a press conference on Monday.

She said that daycare centres would remain open but that parents who can should keep their children at home.

Marin said that the government would bring emergency powers legislation before parliament on Tuesday. In a statement the government said that it had agreed with President Sauli Niinistö that emergency conditions prevailed in Finland because of the coronavirus pandemic

The country’s Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported on Monday afternoon there were a total of 272 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Finland, the illness caused by a novel coronavirus infection.

However, the number of those diagnosed with coronavirus in the country may be 20-30 times higher than has so far been confirmed, according to the Director-General of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) Markku Tervahauta.