Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
COVID-19 situation has remained stable throughout Finland

According to the assessment published on 9 July 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has remained stable in all hospital districts throughout Finland. The number of cases reported weekly to the communicable diseases register has remained low and there has not been much fluctuation in the number of cases when compared to the previous two weeks.

During the last period (26 June to 5 July), a total of 39 new cases were reported to the communicable diseases register. The number has declined slightly when compared to the previous two weeks.

No new cases were reported in 16 hospital districts during the last period (26 June to 5 July). 

At the moment, a total of 19 patients are receiving hospital care due to the COVID-19 disease, and two of them are in intensive care. The number of patients in hospital care has declined clearly since April and May but it has levelled off during the past few weeks. According to the forecast, the number of new periods in hospital and intensive care over the next week will be slightly higher than what was predicted based on the declining trend during the last week.

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 slightly.

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.

The aim for Finland is still to test all cases where the acute phase of the coronavirus infection is suspected. It is therefore extremely 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. 

Based on the information in the register, the estimated basic reproduction number is 0.80-1.25, with a 90 per cent probability. The number has increased slightly compared to the previous weeks. 
The number of hospitalised patients included in the data collected about the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa was higher than it actually was, which might have contributed to the increase in the basic reproduction number. However, the reported number of cases is still low, and the epidemic has remained steady at the current low level.

It is estimated that in Finland around 6,800 people, i.e. over 90 per cent of all confirmed COVID-19 cases, have recovered from the disease. The estimate is based on the data obtained during a three-week period (21 days) by monitoring the confirmed cases.

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).

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:

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

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:

Jussi Sane, Chief Specialist, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected] (epidemiological questions)
Kari Auranen, Professor, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected] (projection models)
Tuija Kumpulainen, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected] (situational picture and modelling group) 
Pasi Pohjola, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected] 
(situational picture and modelling group)