MSAH and THL
Number of new COVID-19 cases declining

The number of new COVID-19 cases seems to have started to fall in Finland. The total number of new cases reported between 16 and 22 August was 4,334. This is about 800 cases fewer than in the preceding week when the figure was 5,176. However, the number of new cases remains high, and COVID-19 continues to spread especially among unvaccinated young people and adults.

The incidence of cases decreased in almost all age groups between 16 and 22 August when compared to the previous week. However, among those under the age of 10, the incidence rate went up by 14 per cent from the previous week. 

The incidence of cases over the last two-week period (9–22 August) was 172 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is almost the same as in the preceding two-week period (26 July–8 August) when the incidence of cases was 175 per 100,000 inhabitants. Of all the new cases, 6 per cent originated from abroad. 

Over 155,000 COVID-19 tests were taken in Finland last week. The proportion of positive COVID-19 cases of all samples was 2.8 per cent, which is nearly one percentage point less than in the previous weeks.

Majority of patients requiring hospital care are unvaccinated

The burden on specialised healthcare has remained stable over the past few weeks. The majority of those in need of hospital care are unvaccinated. In addition, some regions have reported a strain on primary healthcare capacity. This is due to both the shortage of personnel caused by contact tracing and vaccinations and the pressure caused by the backlog in treatment that has accumulated as a result of the epidemic.

Based on the information provided by the hospital districts, a total of 99 people were receiving hospital care due to the COVID-19 disease on 25 August 2021. Of them, 21 were inpatients in primary healthcare, 56 inpatients in specialised healthcare and 22 inpatients in intensive care. On 25 August 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the epidemic was 1,018.

47 per cent of the population has received their second vaccine dose

In Finland, about 71 per cent of the population have received at least their first vaccine dose and 47 per cent their second dose. About 44 per cent of people aged 12–15 have already received their first vaccine dose. More than 80 per cent of those over 40 have received their first dose. The vaccination coverage of 16–39-year-olds is currently lower, standing at 69–75 per cent. 

The epidemiological situation is monitored weekly. A report on the epidemic is published on Thursdays at 10.00.

The monitoring report on the epidemic published today and the previous reports are available on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
 

Inquiries:

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Strategic Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@stm.fi 
Pasi Pohjola, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@stm.fi
Mika Salminen, Director, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, firstname.lastname@thl.fi

• Monitoring coronavirus (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, in Finnish and Swedish)Linkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä 
• The COVID-19 epidemic: regional situation, recommendations and restrictions (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)Linkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä
• Coronavirus in numbers (Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa)Linkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä
• Action plan for implementing the hybrid strategy to control the COVID-19 epidemic (Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2021:21), description sheet in EnglishLinkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä
• Effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on wellbeing, services and the economy (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), in FinnishLinkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä
• Progress with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), in Finnish and SwedishLinkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä
• Guidelines for the controlled dismantling of restrictions and recommendations put in place due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Government memorandum 20 April 2021 (Prime Minister's Office), in FinnishLinkki toiselle sivustolleAvautuu uudessa välilehdessä