EPIDEMIC

Finland exceeds the mark of 8,000 coronavirus infections

The stone men who guard the entrance to Helsinki's main station, with masks. Photo: VR.
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported 23 new diagnosed cases on Friday.

Finland continues to add cases of coronavirus and has already exceeded the mark of 8,000 infections. On Friday, the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported 23 new infections, bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 8,042.

To date, 335 people have lost their lives due to the Covid-19 disease, according to the Finnish health authorities. The latest fatality occurred in the area of ​​influence of the Oulu hospital (on the northwest coast of the country) and was reported by THL on Monday 24 August.

So far, the Finnish regions that have registered the most deaths are Helsinki-Uusimaa (275), Kuopio (25), Turku (19) and Oulu (13).

Source: Statistics Finland.

Intensive care

The total number of people hospitalized in Finland due to Covid-19 remains low compared to other countries. According to THL's figures, currently there are 11 people receiving hospital care, 1 of which is admitted to an intensive care unit.

In relation to Finland's total population (5,543,233) the prevalence is 145 cases per 100,000 people. 

However, the incidence more than doubles in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region, where it is 345 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Another highly affected region is Länsi-Pohja (Northwest Finland, next to the Swedish border), where the incidence is now 252.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Around  7,200 people have recovered from the disease, which is over 90% of reported cases.

Approximately 615,700 people have been tested since the beginning of the epidemic, the health authorities say.