MSAH and THL informs
 COVID-19 cases continue to fall slowly — full course of vaccination gives good protection against infection

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Publication date 9.9.2021 10.00 | Published in English on 10.9.2021 at 8.57
Press release 249

The number of new COVID-19 cases continues to fall in Finland, but the number is still high. The total number of new cases reported between 30 August and 5 September was 3,842. This is about 300 cases fewer than the week before when the figure was 4,175.

The incidence of new cases over the last two-week period was 145 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is 16 per cent less than in the preceding two-week period when the incidence of cases was 172 per 100,000 inhabitants. 

Over 169,000 COVID-19 tests were taken last week. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases of all samples taken has continued to decline, standing at approximately 2.3 per cent last week. Of all new cases, 5 per cent originated from abroad and 0.3 per cent were further infections resulting from them.

Prompt contact tracing and quarantine measures prevent further infections effectively. Between 30 August and 5 September, a total of 11,849 people were quarantined, which is almost the same number as the week before. 

Majority of those requiring hospital care are unvaccinated 

In Finland, 82.4 per cent of people over 12 years of age have received their first vaccine dose and 61.3 per cent their second dose.

The risk of contracting the virus, including symptomatic COVID-19, is considerably greater for unvaccinated people than for those who have been vaccinated. Over the past two weeks, the incidence rate has been highest in relative terms among unvaccinated 10–49-year-olds, standing at about 400 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, the incidence of cases has been very low in all age groups of people who have received a full course of vaccination. Even in most age groups of people who have received their first vaccine dose, the incidence was over 50 per cent lower than in unvaccinated people. 

The burden on specialised healthcare has remained unchanged over the past few weeks. The burden is about one third of what it was during the peak months of the epidemic in spring 2020. The majority of those in need of hospital care are unvaccinated. Based on the information provided by the hospital districts, a total of 98 people were receiving hospital care due to the COVID-19 disease on 8 September 2021. Of them, 25 were inpatients in primary healthcare, 51 inpatients in specialised healthcare and 22 inpatients in intensive care. On 8 September 2021, the total number of deaths related to the disease was 1,039.

The epidemiological situation is monitored weekly. A report on the epidemic is published on Thursdays at 10.00.

The monitoring report on the epidemic published today and the previous reports are available on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

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

Inquiries:

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Strategic Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected] 
Pasi Pohjola, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected]
Mika Salminen, Director, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected]
Otto Helve, Chief Physician, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected]