Positive COVID-19 tests on rise, accounting for 10.7 per cent of all tests last week

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

29.12.2021 14.02 | Published in English on 29.12.2021 at 14.16

Press release 421

Around 16,200 new COVID-19 cases were reported between 20 and 26 December, 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 Omikron variant was 172. The burden on hospital care and intensive care remained stable over the Christmas holidays.

In the last two calendar 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. In recent weeks, the need for hospital care has been more evenly distributed across the country compared to earlier weeks. On 28 December 2021, 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.
In recent weeks, testing for coronavirus has been very active. Around 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.

The following 20 areas meet the epidemiological characteristics for a community transmission area: Åland and the Hospital Districts of South Karelia, South Ostrobothnia, South Savo, Helsinki and Uusimaa, East Savo, Kanta-Häme, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Kymenlaakso, Lapland, Länsi-Pohja, Pirkanmaa, North Karelia, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, Vaasa and Southwest Finland.

One area does not meet the characteristics for a community transmission area: Hospital District of Kainuu.

The epidemiological situation is being monitored over the New Year period. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare will publish the key monitoring information on the COVID-19 epidemic on a new reporting website. The new websiteLink to an external website will replace the current coronavirus map entirely as of 1 January 2022.

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