10 more coronavirus infections diagnosed in 24 hours

The total number of cases of coronavirus infections in the country has increased to 7,372, as 10 more cases had been diagnosed in the 24 hours until Thursday afternoon, said the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus deaths in Finland remains unchanged at 328, as no new deaths has been reported in the country since 3rd July.

Until Wednesday, 6,920 or more than 90% coronavirus-infected patients in Finland had recovered.

A total of four coronavirus patients are now undergoing treatment at different hospitals but there is no one in intensive care unit (ICU).

So far, a total of 271 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.

According to the THL report, in relation to Finland’s total population (5,543,233), the prevalence of COVID-19 cases is 133 per 100,000 people.

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

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the social affairs and health ministry said that the coronavirus epidemic has remained stable in Finland.

In 13 to 19 July, a total of 40 new cases were reported to the communicable diseases register. The number of cases is at the same level as was in the previous two weeks, said an official press release.

Some of the new cases are related to well-known infection chains and clusters of cases that are being monitored. The infection chains of all new cases are carefully tracked in order to prevent new infections as effectively as possible.

Currently, the estimated basic reproduction number is 0.55–0.95, with a 90 per cent probability. This means that although the downward trend of new coronavirus infections has stalled, the situation is stable at the national level.

Last week, the number of people tested for coronavirus infection was slightly higher than in the previous two weeks. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases of all the samples taken has remained low.

The news agency Xinhua adds: Kirsi Varhila, permanent secretary of the social affairs and health ministry, told the national broadcaster Yle that concrete measures have started with a view of a possible second wave.

“Clusters of infection would be tackled directly at the local or regional level,” Varhila said. The Infectious Diseases Act is being upgraded so that the Emergency Powers Act would not have to be resorted to. The threshold for “closing the country again” would be high, noted Varhila.

Following the easing of travel restrictions, Finland is also planning COVID-19 tests at the border. A working group started last week to plan testing solutions for airports, harbours, and the land borders.

Varhila said she was also concerned with the relaxed behaviour of young people in Finland. “I have considered whether new tools of modern communication should be used. I am not sure whether our factual information reaches young people now,” she said.