Image: Tiina Jutila / Yle

Speaking on Yle's Ykkösaamu discussion programme on Saturday, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said her cabinet was prepared to restrict movement from the Uusimaa region to other parts of Finland should the infection rate worsen in the capital area.

While the premier said that such curbs were not necessary at the moment, officials would continue to monitor the situation daily.

Uusimaa has the highest infection rate in all of Finland.

“If the situation would deteriorate in Uusimaa to the point that restricting movement would become necessary, the government would commission a decree and take it to Parliament,” she explained.

Marin said the administration was also considering controls on movement. At the moment the government has urged people aged over 70 to avoid unnecessary social contact in addition to the current ban on public gatherings of more than ten people.

“We are looking to see if people are following the rules, and if they don’t, we’ll be forced to take harsher measures, including further restrictions on movement,” Marin added.

Finland braces for infection wave

The government is preparing for the number of infections to rise, Marin told Yle.

”It’s my understanding that we can still trace Finland’s infection chain. However Uusimaa has its own chain of infection, so some of the infections are now from Finland,” the premier said.

Finland is attempting to 'flatten the curve', that is, delay the peak of the epidemic and reduce its extent to ease the burden on the Finnish healthcare system.

"We want every person to have access to care and for us to be able to protect the elderly as well as those with underlying illnesses," she explained. "It's up to each and every one of us to act responsibly."