The number of new Covid-19 cases has been on a slow decline in Finland for the past four weeks. The progress of the vaccination campaign, particularly among the school-age population, is helping to curb infections. Currently, unvaccinated adults are the main source of concern.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the total number of new cases reported between 6 and 12 September was 3,119. This is about 750 cases fewer than the week before when the figure was 3,887.
The epidemic continues to spread especially among unvaccinated 20-49-year-olds, Finnish health authorities say in the latest monitoring report on the epidemic.
The incidence of new cases over the last two-week period was 126 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is 19% less than in the preceding two-week period when the incidence of cases was 155 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Of all new cases, 5% originated from abroad and 1% were further infections resulting from them.
Between 6 and 12 September, a total of 9,364 people were quarantined, which is nearly 2,500 people fewer than in the preceding week.
65% received full vaccination
In Finland, 83% of people over 12 years of age have received their first vaccine dose and 65% a full course of vaccination.
Over the past two weeks, between 30 August and 12 September, the incidence rate has been highest in relative terms among unvaccinated 20–49-year-olds, standing at about 345–375 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, the incidence of cases has been very low in all age groups of people who have received a full course of vaccination.
Even among those who have received their first vaccine dose, the incidence was over 50% lower than in unvaccinated people.
The burden on specialised healthcare has remained unchanged over the past few weeks, although there has been a rise in the number of patients in intensive care over the past week.
The majority of those in need of hospital care are unvaccinated. The proportion of intensive care patients who have no underlying chronic disease has grown since last summer, and most of them have been unvaccinated or they had received their first vaccine dose.
Based on the information provided by the hospital districts, a total of 95 people were receiving hospital care due to the COVID-19 disease on 15 September 2021. Of them, 16 were inpatients in primary healthcare, 50 in specialised healthcare and 29 in intensive care.
On 15 September 2021, the total number of deaths related to the disease in Finland was 1,051.
