Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Coronavirus epidemic has calmed down in Finland – infections still possible
According to the assessment published on 25 June 2020, the coronavirus epidemic has calmed down in Finland. The number of cases reported weekly to the communicable diseases register has still continued to decrease.
Now the estimated basic reproduction number is 0.40–0.75. The number is slightly lower than the previous week. This means that the coronavirus epidemic continues to slow down in Finland.
During the last period (15–21 June), no new cases were reported in 14 hospital districts.
Very few new cases were reported in hospital districts other than the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS). The number of new cases in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa has also continued to decline compared to the previous week.
The number of patients hospitalised due to the COVID-19 disease has decreased, and the forecast predicts that the number of new periods in hospital and intensive care continues to decline further next week. In the catchment areas for highly specialised medical care of the university hospitals, the situation regarding coronavirus-related hospital care is still very calm. Only a few patients have been in intensive care throughout the country during the last period. The intensive care capacity has not been exceeded at any point during the epidemic.
Because the epidemiological situation is currently calm, it has not been necessary to issue a weekly report on the state of intensive care since 11 June. The number of patients in hospital and intensive care is given in the weekly assessment report published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and on the Institute’s website (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
At present, the coronavirus testing capacity of laboratories is more than 13,000 samples per day. This exceeds the target set by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, i.e. the daily testing capacity of 10,000 samples. Last week, the number of people tested for coronavirus was again smaller than in the previous weeks. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases of all samples taken has continued to decline.
The aim for Finland is still to test all cases where the acute phase of the coronavirus infection is suspected. It is therefore important that the threshold for people to have themselves tested is kept very low. Testing helps to identify the sources of infection and transmission chains and to prevent further infections.
In Finland, an estimated 6,600 people have recovered from the COVID-19 disease.
The assessment of the coronavirus situation published today and earlier assessment reports are available on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare:
The impact of Finland’s hybrid strategy in combating the COVID-19 epidemic is monitored by means of epidemiological, medical and functional indicators. The strategy aims to prevent the spread of the virus in Finland, protect the capacity of the healthcare system, and shield and protect people, especially those who are most at risk.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare produce weekly assessments of the epidemiological situation both nationally and regionally.
- Coronavirus in numbers: four-week forecast of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa
- Earlier assessment reports on the state of intensive care (Kuopio University Hospital, in Finnish)
- Government Resolution on a plan for a hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 crisis
Inquiries:
Taneli Puumalainen, Chief Physician, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected] (epidemiological questions)
Kari Auranen, Professor, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected] (projection models)
Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Strategic Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected] (situational picture and modelling group)