COVID-19 situation remains essentially unchanged

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

10.2.2022 10.00 | Published in English on 10.2.2022 at 14.29

Press release 34/2022

The need for hospital care due to COVID-19 has stayed at a high but stable level for two weeks now. The burden on intensive care has reduced considerably since mid-January. Getting a third vaccine dose is an important way of preventing the more serious forms of the disease and curbing the burden on hospital care.

On 9 February, there were 347 inpatients in specialised healthcare, which is almost the same as a week ago. On 9 February, the total number of patients in intensive care was 30, compared to 38 in the week before. Between 31 January and 6 February, a total of 29 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care, while between 10 and 16 January, the number of new patients was 60. An estimated 25 per cent of all COVID-19 patients on ordinary wards in specialised healthcare were admitted for some other reason than COVID-19. The percentage was 20 for intensive care.

On 9 February 2022, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 2,126. Of those who have died, 75 per cent had at least one underlying health condition that made them susceptible to a severe form of the COVID-19 disease. In the past two weeks (27 January–9 February), a total of 232 deaths were reported. People over 70 years of age accounted for 83 per cent of the deaths.

It is recommended that everyone aged 18 years or over takes a third vaccine dose. A fourth vaccine dose is recommended for those aged 12 or over who have a severely weakened immune system. By 9 February, 88.6 per cent of people in Finland who are 18 years of age or over had received at least one vaccine dose, 86 per cent at least two vaccine doses and 58.4 per cent three vaccine doses. It is particularly important that people aged 60 or over and those aged 18 or over who belong to risk groups because of their underlying health conditions take their third vaccine dose as soon as possible.

By 9 February, a total of 53 cases of the Omicron sub-variant BA.2 had been confirmed in Finland. The proportion of cases of BA.2 has increased rapidly particularly in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.

The means to combat the epidemic are targeted local and regional measures. As the restrictions are eased, the focus will be on independent measures to prevent the spread of infections, home testing, and as high a vaccination coverage as possible.

The epidemiological situation is monitored weekly. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare publishes the key monitoring information on the COVID-19 epidemic on its reporting websiteLinkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä.

Inquiries:

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@gov.fi
Taneli Puumalainen, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@gov.fi
Mika Salminen, Director, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, firstname.lastname@thl.fi