Spread of coronavirus Delta variants worries Finland

The rapid spreading of the Delta variant of the coronavirus raised concern in Finland as the cases of Delta variant among the diagnosed infections are significantly high.

About 91 percent of the infections diagnosed at the Russian border were Delta variant, said the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in a press release on Friday.

A total of 78 samples taken from the incoming people through Easter border were analyzed, of which 71 (91 percent) were Delta variants.

“Presently , the Delta variant accounts for more than 80 percent of the test results analyzed across the country. The proportion of the alpha variant has dropped to about six percent. Other variants can only be found in a few, ”said Carita Savolainen-Kopra a leading expert at THL.

Meanwhile, the number of new cases has doubled compared to the preceding two-week period as during the past two weeks, the number of new cases totalled 2,240, while in the preceding two-week period, it was 1,093.

The number has been increasing again in the Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) district for the past three weeks, since before the Midsummer holiday weekend, reported national broadcaster Yle on Saturday. The incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants has risen to 68 in the last two weeks.

The number of coronavirus infections at restaurants and bars in Helsinki has clearly increased in recent days, said the Yle report, quoting Terhi Heinäsmäki, the City of Helsinki's infectious diseases specialist as saying.