Finland lift roadblocks in the region around its capital, Helsinki, on Wednesday (Apr 15), Prime Minister Sanna Marin said, in a first step towards easing coronavirus-related restrictions.

Travel restrictions to and from Uusimaa, the capital region, to the rest of the country began on Mar 28, to prevent people from spreading the virus to other parts of the country.

Marin said the government no longer had legal grounds to continue the lockdown, considering it an extreme measure to restrict people’s freedom of movement so strictly.

“It is no longer an absolutely necessary restriction measure in the way required in the Emergency Powers Act,” Marin said.

The government nevertheless recommended people avoid all unnecessary travel, she said.