UK, SA variant of coronavirus strains found in Finland

Three cases of new variant of the coronavirus strains that have been rapidly spreading in the United Kingdom and South Africa were detected in Finland, said a joint press release of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and the Helsinki University Hospital District (HUS) on Monday.

All the three people – two infected with a variant of the coronavirus identified in the UK and the third infected with the variant found in South Africa – travelled abroad and returned to the country recently.

The infections were identified by pathological tests at virology laboratories of the University of Helsinki and the HUS.

The infected people, however, were in good condition and undergoing treatment in isolation.

Earlier, the Kymenlaakso health authority said a new strain of coronavirus was found during the Christmas holiday in a patient who travelled to and from Western Europe recently, reported the national broadcaster Yle.

Marja-Liisa Mäntymaa, the chief medical officer at Social and Health Services in Kymenlaakso, told Yle that the strain had been detected in the locality.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on December 23 recommended that people travelling to Finland from the UK on or after 7 December 2020 should have themselves tested for coronavirus, even if they don’t show symptoms of the disease.

The aim of the testing is to ensure that no new strain of the virus spreads in Finland through people who are infected but may be asymptomatic.

On 20 December 2020, following a statement issued by the THL, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) decided to put an immediate stop to passenger flights from the UK to Finland.