16,200 COVID infections diagnosed in 1 week, 82 deaths in 2 weeks

About 16,200 new COVID-19 cases were reported between 20 and 26 December in Finland, while in the previous week the number of new cases in Finland was around 13,800.

On 29 December, the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant was 172, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, about 152,000 COVID-19 tests were taken between 20 and 26 December. The number of positive test results has increased. In the last week (between 20 and 26 December), 10.7 per cent of all samples tested positive, compared to 8.1 per cent in the week before.

In the last two weeks (between 13 and 26 December), the incidence of new cases was 542 per 100,000 inhabitants. In the previous two weeks (between 29 November and 12 December), the incidence of new cases was 362 per 100,000 inhabitants.

At the end of last week, the total number of patients in specialised healthcare was 214, of whom 159 were in inpatient care and 55 in intensive care.

On 28 December, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 1526. In the last 14 days (between 14 and 28 December), a total of 82 new deaths were reported. People aged over 70 years accounted for 82 per cent of the deaths, totalling 67.

On 29 December, 77 per cent of those aged 5 and over had received at least two vaccine doses in Finland, while 19.1 per cent had received three doses.

Municipalities were given the permission to start vaccinating 5–11-year-old children at risk in mid-December and other 5–11-year-olds as of 23 December. Previously the age limit was 12 years.