Coronavirus death toll in Finland rises to 325

The number of coronavirus deaths in Finland increased to 325 as one more person died in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) in the last 24 hours, said the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus infection increased to 7064 as 24 more cases had been diagnosed in the last 24 hours until Thursday afternoon.

So far, a total of 268 people have died in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), 25 in the Pohjois-Savo Hospital District (KYS), 17 in the Turku Hospital District (TYKS), 12 in the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa Hospital District (OYS), and three in the Tampere-Pirkanmaa (TAYS) Hospital District.

So far, more than 6 200 patients, which is 85% of the total infected people have been recovered from the disease.

Presently, 25 coronavirus patients are undergoing treatment in different hospitals, including four in intensive care units.

Currently, laboratories in the country are testing about 13,000 samples a day.

According to the THL report, in relation to Finland’s total population (5,543,233), the prevalence of cases is 127 cases per 100,000 people.

Xinhua adds: The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday said the infection rate of COVID-19 in Finland has remained well under one despite relaxation of some restrictions, which means the easing has not produced an infection hike in the country so far.

Jussi Sane, a senior expert at THL, stressed at a press conference that the R-rate this week is 0.7-0.8 and it is yet too early to assess the impact of the reopening of restaurants in Finland from the beginning of June. He said it has been possible to trace down all recent infection cases, and there have been no undefined chains of infection recently. Sane urged citizens to continue to pay attention to restrictions and personal behaviour, in order to protect themselves from the virus.

As the COVID-19 restrictive measures have been gradually eased in Finland, primary schools and lower secondary schools throughout the country reopened in mid-May, though summer holiday is coming.

Restaurants and cafes throughout the country were allowed to reopen from June 1, with restrictions on opening hours and the number of customers indoors at one time.