Coronavirus death toll in Finland stands at 64

The coronavirus death toll in Finland has increased to 64 as five more patients- four in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) and one in the Pohjois-Savo Hospital District (KYS)- died in the last 24 hours, said the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Tuesday.

So far 43 patients had died in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), 17 in the Pohjois-Savo Hospital District (KYS), two in the Turku Hospital District (TYKS), and one each in the Tampere-Pirkanmaa (TAYS) Hospital District and the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (OYS) Hospital District till Tuesday, said THL.

THL, however, did not divulge any details about the deceased, considering their confidentiality.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus infection cases in the country has increased to 3161, as 97 more cases were diagnosed till Tuesday.

Out of the total cases, 1987 were reported in Uusimaa and over half of these in Helsinki.

Presently, a total of 232 patients are under treatment in different hospitals, including 75 in intensive care units.

Currently, laboratories can analyse around 4,000 samples a day, and testing capacity is being expanded continuously.

Meanwhile, Head of the THL, Markku Tervahauta on Tuesday suggested that everybody should start to wear a mask, even if he or she has no symptom of coronavirus infection, national broadcaster Yle reported quoting a Finnish language daily Helsingin Sanomat.

"At the national level, the benefits clearly outweigh any disadvantages," said the report, quoting Tervahauta as saying to the newspaper in an interview.

The use of masks to cover the nose and mouth remained a controversial issue and the health authority did not recommend the use of protective masks for ordinary people so far.

Tervahauta's comments are a stark departure from the official position, said the Yle report.