Number of COVID-19 infections remains high

The number of new COVID-19 infections has remained at almost the same level as the week before, said Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in a joint press release on Thursday.

The total number of new cases reported between 9 and 15 August was 5,163, whereas in the previous week the number of new cases was 5,072.

Currently, COVID-19 is spreading especially among unvaccinated young people and young adults.

Out of about 142,000 COVID-19 tests administered in Finland last week, the proportion of positive samples was 3.6 per cent. The incidence of new COVID-19 cases in the last two-week period (2–15 August) was 185 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the effective basic reproduction number is currently 1.05–1.25, with a 90 per cent probability. Last week, the proportion of infections from abroad was around 9 per cent.

The source of infection was traced successfully in 52 per cent of all new cases in Finland.

Based on the information provided by the hospital districts, a total of 106 people were receiving hospital care due to the COVID-19 disease on 18 August 2021. Of them, 12 were inpatients in primary healthcare, 65 inpatients in specialised healthcare and 29 inpatients in intensive care. On 18 August 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the epidemic was 1,008.

The overall burden on specialised healthcare has increased slightly. The need for intensive care in particular has increased over the past few weeks due to the growing number of infections. The majority of those in need of hospital care are unvaccinated.

In Finland, around 69 per cent of the population have received at least their first vaccine dose and about 44 per cent of the population have received a full COVID-19 vaccine course, i.e. they have received the second vaccine dose.

The vaccination of 12–15-year-olds, which started earlier in August, is progressing at pace. About 24 per cent of those belonging to this age group have already received their first vaccine dose.