Helsinki Port streamlines health checks

The Port of Helsinki on Friday has changed the health examinations procedure for the incoming passengers following the increase of the passenger flow at the port.

All passengers, including those arriving by car, will henceforth be classified into two lines, green and red and the passenger must choose the right line, said the City of Helsinki in a press release.

The green line is to be chosen by passengers with a certificate of full vaccination or a certificate of having contracted COVID-19 within the last 6 months. In the green line, passenger certificates are checked by random sampling.

The changes, however, do not apply to cargo traffic and logistics personnel on work assignments, or cruise passengers who have departed from Finland and have not disembarked at any stage. They can still use the green line.

The red line is to be chosen by arriving passengers on foot who do not have the above certificates.

In the car lane, motorists with a negative test certificate or a certificate of an inadequate vaccination series also have access to the green line. If there is one person in the vehicle who belongs to the red line, the red line is to be selected.

“As vaccination coverage increases, we can further streamline port health examinations. As passenger numbers rise, it is important to ensure that terminals and car parks are not congested in a way that endangers safety. Vaccinated passengers should also not have too long waiting times and should be able to continue their journey smoothly,” said Director of Health and substance abuse services Leena Turpeinen.

Passengers without completion of vaccination series and tested negative for COVID-19 (tested within the previous 72 hours) or entered the country without any certificate, must be tested between 72 and 120 hours after entering the country.

Neglecting to get tested is punishable for an adult as per the law.