Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin has released an apology after she went clubbing in Helsinki with friends. Hours before going out, her foreign minister had tested positive for COVID-19.
Marin had been initially told that because she was fully vaccinated, there was no reason that she should have to quarantine. She later missed a text advising that she quarantine despite being fully vaccinated.
The text, which had been sent to her work phone, had been left at home while the 36 year old was clubbing until about 4 a.m. This information came to light after it was revealed Marin had not heeded her warning to immediately quarantine.
Finland's Prime Minister is 36 years old, went out clubbing till 4am, left her work phone at home and was therefore unreachable to get a text telling her she needed to quarantine. https://t.co/AUYNYtCxsU
— Neri Zilber (@NeriZilber) December 8, 2021
According to Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, there are guidelines outlined for government ministers and employees that limit social contact immediately after exposure to COVID-19. In general, these guidelines do recommend that people voluntarily take a COVID-19 test and isolate.
Though Marin apologized for not taking initiative in isolating until she had a negative COVID-19 test as the Prime Minister’s office has recommended to Finland, she defended her actions by stating that she followed the advice of her secretary of state.
Marin posted on Facebook, “I should have used better consideration on Saturday night and rehearse the instruction I got another time. I’m really sorry that I didn’t understand how to do this.”
Prime Minister Sanna Marin became the youngest prime minister of Finland as well as the world’s youngest serving prime minister upon her election in 2019 after she led a center-left coalition.