69 workers at a Helsinki hospital caught coronavirus

Healthcare workers are among the main victims of Covid-19. And in Helsinki, epicenter of the epidemic in Finland, they know a lot about it.

According to the Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavouri, in Laakso Hospital, where patients needing urgent assessment or care for symptoms of respiratory infection are treated, 69 workers have tested positive for Covid-19 since 19 March.

In a video released on Tuesday on Helsinki's official website, Vapaavuori explained that around half of the cases diagnosed at the hospital were found in people who work at three wards that care for coronavirus patients.

However, he added that no staff at the hospital's temporary coronavirus health clinic have tested positive so far.

800 workers tested

As a preventive measure, Laakso Hospital management decided to test the entire staff, including those workers with no symptoms.

This is around 800 people, of which 500 have been already tested, according to Vapaavuori.

Those who tested positive have been placed in a two-week quarantine.