By News Desk @bactiman63
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare report that while new COVID-19 cases are still reported in large numbers across the country, the Christmas and New Year period did not cause any significant rise in the number of COVID-19 infections.
The Epidemiological situation has remained about the same for four weeks now, officials note.
Between 11 and 17 January, a total of 1,689 new cases were reported to the communicable diseases register, showing a decrease of 136 cases from the previous week. The incidence of new cases was 31 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is about the same as in the previous week.
The total number of new cases in the last two-week period (4–17 January) was 3,514, which was 112 cases more than in the preceding two-week period. The incidence of new cases was 63 per 100,000 inhabitants, while in the preceding two-week period it was 61.
Currently, the estimated basic reproduction number is 0.75–0.95, with a 90 per cent probability.
The need for hospital care has reduced slightly compared to the previous week: on 20 January, the number of people requiring hospital care was 145. Of them, a total of 56 were inpatients in primary healthcare, 63 inpatients in specialized medical care (hospitals of hospital districts) and 27 inpatients in intensive care. The average age of COVID-19 patients requiring hospital care has risen; the biggest age group in intensive care is now people aged 60–69.
On 20 January 2021, the total number of deaths related to the disease was 632.
The incidence and number of COVID-19 cases are still very high in many European countries and their neighboring areas. The new virus variants may affect the development of the epidemic.
So far, a total of 86 cases of the new variants discovered in the Great Britain and South Africa have been confirmed in Finland.
Measures are taken to stop the spread of the variants to Finland by increasing testing at the borders and by issuing regional restrictions and recommendations.
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