Coronavirus epidemic continues to wane

The COVID-19 situation in Finland remains stable and the number of infections detected has continued to decline compared to the previous two weeks. During the week beginning on 6 July, the incidence of new cases was 0.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. 

Currently, the estimated basic reproduction number is 0.05–0.60, with a 90 per cent probability. This figure is lower than in the previous week due to the change in the reporting of figures from the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa. 

At present, the 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 higher than in the previous two weeks. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases of all samples taken has declined further.

So far, a total of 7,296 positive cases have been detected in Finland. There have been 328 deaths related to the disease. 

As of 15 July 2020, a total of 7 patients were receiving hospital care due to the COVID-19 disease. None of them were in intensive care. The number of patients in hospital care has declined clearly since April and May and has levelled off during the past few weeks.

Because some clusters of infection and exposures to the disease have been detected among seasonal workers, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare is closely monitoring the situation and the impact of prevention measures in cooperation with regional health authorities.

The assessment of the coronavirus situation by the situational picture and modelling group published today as well as earlier assessments are available on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare:

• Monitoring coronavirus (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, in Finnish)

Inquiries:

Mika Salminen, Director, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected]
(epidemiological situation)
Simopekka Vänskä, Senior Researcher, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected] (epidemiological situation)
Tuija Kumpulainen, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected] (situational picture and modelling group)