Slight increase in the number of new coronavirus infections
At the national level, the number of new coronavirus infections is still small, even though there has been a slight increase in reported cases in July.
During the last monitoring period from 27 July to 2 August 2020, a total of 74 new cases were reported to the communicable diseases register. In the week before, the number of reported cases was 51, showing a slight growth in the number of cases reported in the two previous weeks, 42 cases in the week beginning 13 July and 38 cases in the week beginning 6 July.
Currently, the estimated basic reproduction number (RO) is 1.10–1.40, with a 90 per cent probability interval.
The incidence of new cases during the week beginning 27 July was 1.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. The incidence was higher in the Hospital Districts of Satakunta, Helsinki and Uusimaa, and Southwest Finland. Some of the new cases are related to identified infection chains and clusters of cases that are being monitored, but the source of all infections is not known.
The infection chains of all new cases are tracked in order to prevent new infections as effectively as possible.
The number of tests per week has increased by nearly 20 per cent, being now at 619 tests per 100,000 inhabitants. The percentage of positive infections has remained small for several weeks, at only 0.2 per cent.
The situational picture and modelling group’s most recent and previous reports are available on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL):
The total number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Finland now stands at 7,512. Finland has reported 331 deaths related to the COVID-19 disease caused by coronavirus.
More than 90 per cent of those who have been infected have recovered. Infected people are considered to have recovered if no monitoring data related to symptoms of the disease is received after three weeks from the date when infection was confirmed.
On 5 August 2020, of the 6 patients hospitalised at the time, none was in intensive care. The number of hospitalised coronavirus patients has remained at a low level since the beginning of July. The number of patients in hospital care has declined clearly since April and May and has levelled off during the past few weeks.
It is important to continue active testing in order to identify all infection chains and break them in time. Anyone with the slightest symptoms of a coronavirus infection should get tested. More information about the tests:
- Symptoms and treatment of coronavirus (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)
- Preparedness for coronavirus testing remains important in summer months (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, only in Finnish)
- Travel and the coronavirus pandemic – Instructions for travellers and employees arriving in Finland (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)
Inquiries:
Mika Salminen, Director, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected] (epidemiological situation)
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)