Helsinki seeks govt guidance on summer fests

Close to 30 large-scale gatherings planned for the coming months are in limbo. So the City of Helsinki has called on the Finnish government to come up with a national policy to clear up the uncertainty, said the City of Helsinki in a press release.

The city has been continually analysing the long-term effects of the coronavirus crisis in different sectors. For example, the work of many event-planners is at an impasse, as no one can say for sure when the current social distancing measures will end.

To clear up the fate of several proposed events, the city has asked the Finnish government to come up with a national policy soon in regard to large gatherings planned for the summer.

Large public events can be key platforms for the spread of coronavirus infection. The City of Helsinki has approximately 30 different events in the pipeline that would gather more than 5,000 participants in one place.

The current state of emergency declared by the government extends to May 13. If a policy determining the size of acceptable gathering were agreed upon to be in force until August 31, the city elders argue, it would give many event-planners, performers, customers, subcontractors and other partners peace of mind.

“Events in Helsinki significantly lift both our spirits and the economy. The event-planning industry provides work for many young people, and feeds into a larger service and production sector. Events attract customers to hotels, restaurants and local services. We heartily endorse our city’s events, but people’s health and safety must come first. Event-planners throughout the country would find their situation greatly improved, if they had a better understanding of what next summer has in store,” said Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori in the release.