Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare:
 COVID-19 infections continue to increase – especially burden on intensive care has increased throughout the country

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Publication date 21.12.2021 12.00
Press release 405

Around 13,400 new COVID-19 cases were reported between 13 and 19 December, while in the previous week the number of new cases in Finland was around 10,600. On 20 December, the total number of confirmed cases of the Omikron variant was 83. The burden on hospital care and, in particular, intensive care is increasing.

In the last 14 days (between 4 and 17 December), the incidence of new cases was 408 per 100,000 inhabitants. In the previous two weeks (between 20 November and 3 December), the incidence of new cases was 307 per 100,000 inhabitants.

At the end of last week, the total number of patients in specialised healthcare was 184, of whom 126 were in inpatient care and 58 in intensive care. On 20 December, 177 patients were in specialised healthcare and 64 in intensive care. The burden on hospital care is now spread more evenly across the country than before. On 20 December 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 1,493 and 60 per cent of the reported deaths were among people over 80 years of age. 

On 19 December, 83.3 per cent of those aged 12 and over had received at least two vaccine doses in Finland. At the same time, the number of those having received the third dose is nearly 770,000.

In recent weeks, testing for coronavirus has been very active. A total of 150,000–154,000 tests per week were carried out between 6 and 19 December. The number of positive test results has increased. In the last 14 days, 8.1 per cent of all samples taken were positive, whereas in the previous 14 days the share was 6.1 per cent. 

The following 17 areas meet the epidemiological characteristics for areas in the community transmission phase: The Hospital Districts of South Karelia, South Ostrobothnia, South Savo, North Savo, Helsinki and Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Kymenlaakso, Lapland, Länsi-Pohja, Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, Vaasa and Southwest Finland.
The epidemiological situation is being monitored during Christmas and the New Year. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare will publish the key monitoring information on the COVID-19 epidemic on a new reporting website. The new website will replace the current coronavirus map entirely as of 1 January 2022.

Inquiries:

Mia Kontio, Chief Specialist, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected]
Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected]
Taneli Puumalainen, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected]
Mika Salminen, Director, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected]