52,000 COVID infections diagnosed in 1 week, 206 deaths in 2 weeks

About 52,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Finland between 17 January and 23 January, compared to 57,000 in the previous week, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in a joint press release on Thursday.

Meanwhile, on 26 January, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 1,894. In the last 14 days (13–26 January) a total of 206 deaths were reported. People over 70 years of age accounted for 86 per cent of the deaths.

Despite a fall in the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care, the burden on other specialised healthcare has remained unchanged at the national level.

In the last two weeks (between 10 and 23 January), the incidence of new cases was 1,963 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 1,834 in the preceding two-week period.

On 26 January, there were 350 inpatients in specialised healthcare, while on 19 January, the number was 363.

The total number of patients in intensive care was 48, compared to 64 in the week before. Only 33 new patients were admitted to intensive care between 17 and 23 January, which is clearly less than in the preceding two weeks when the total of new admissions was 60 and 61, respectively.

The number of inpatients in specialised healthcare has remained at the same high level at 302 on 26 January, compared to 299 the week before.

An estimated 24 per cent of all COVID-19 inpatients in specialised healthcare were admitted for some other reason than COVID-19. The percentage was 17 for intensive care.

Although there are still many cases being reported among vaccinated people, vaccine effectiveness is high in preventing severe disease.

Between September and December, unvaccinated people with COVID-19 were 14 times more likely to be admitted to specialised healthcare and 27 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care than those who had been vaccinated twice.

By 26 January, 86.7 per cent of people in Finland who are 18 years of age or over had received at least one vaccine dose, 84.1 per cent at least two vaccine doses and 51.4 per cent three vaccine doses.

About a third of all the more than 164,000 samples taken between 17 and 23 January tested positive, showing no great change on the previous week.

The whole of Finland continues to match the characteristics of a community transmission area.