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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
 Nearly 53,600 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Finland, need for hospital care increasing, third vaccine dose given to one third of people aged 12 or over

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Publication date 13.1.2022 10.02 | Published in English on 13.1.2022 at 14.20
Press release 9/2022

Nearly 53,600 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Finland between 3 and 9 January, compared to more than 42,100 new cases in the previous week. Cases are now reported even among people who have been vaccinated. The need for inpatient specialised healthcare has grown considerably while the burden on intensive care remains high but relatively stable. Vaccinations continue to provide good protection against the more serious forms of the disease.

In the last 14 days (between 27 December 2021 and 9 January 2022), the incidence of new cases was 1,721 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 629 in the preceding two-week period. This means that the number of new infections has nearly tripled since December. On 12 January 2022, the estimated effective basic reproduction number was 1.05–1.2 with a 90 per cent probability. 

On 12 January, there were 311 inpatients in specialised healthcare, while on 5 January the number was 239. It is estimated that 20–25 per cent of all COVID-19 patients in specialised healthcare are receiving hospital care mainly for some other reason.

On 12 January, the total number of patients in intensive care was 59, while in the preceding three-week period the number was between 47 and 58. Between 3 and 9 January, a total of 59 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care, while in the preceding four weeks, the number varied between 36 and 40. 

On 12 January 2022, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 1,688. In the last 14 days (29 December 2021–12 January 2022), a total of 140 deaths were reported. People over 70 years of age accounted for 78 per cent of the deaths.

On 12 January, the total number of cases of the Omicron variant was 523. There are now many cases being reported even among vaccinated people, but the number of vaccinated people receiving hospital care has not increased nearly as much. By 12 January 2022, 88.0 per cent of people in Finland who are 12 years of age or over had received at least one vaccine dose, 84.3 per cent at least two vaccine doses and 32.9 per cent three vaccine doses. It is recommended that particularly people aged 60 or over and those belonging to risk groups take a third dose.

Compared to the situation a week earlier on 5 January 2021, the intake of the first vaccine rose by 0.5 percentage points, the second by 0.4 percentage points and the third by 7.2 percentage points.

The number of COVID-19 tests continues to be high, and positive test results have increased in number. Between 3 and 9 January, the number of tests performed was about 190,000, and 30 per cent of all these samples tested positive, compared to 25 per cent in the week before.

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

The epidemiological situation is monitored weekly. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare published the key monitoring information on the COVID-19 epidemic on a new reporting website.

Inquiries

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected]
Pasi Pohjola, Director of Strategic Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected]
Otto Helve, Chief Physician, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected]
Mia Kontio, Chief Specialist, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected]
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