Covid-19 case numbers rising again

The number and incidence of coronavirus cases have risen again compared to the past few weeks, the Finnish government says in its latest assessment of the epidemiological situation.

"While the national epidemiological situation has remained fairly stable for several weeks now, there are considerable regional differences. Getting tested is the key to curbing the spread of coronavirus," the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health says.

Although the majority of the cases are of domestic origin at the moment, the fact that the pandemic is escalating in Europe is worrying and, in future, the situation can also affect Finland.

On 4 November 2020, seven regions reported having entered the acceleration phase. These regions are the Hospital Districts of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme, Länsi-Pohja, Pirkanmaa, Vaasa and Southwest Finland and the Åland Islands.

The remaining 14 hospital districts are at a stable level, but there are individual cities and towns situated in some of these hospital districts that have entered the acceleration phase. These cities and towns are Kouvola, Kuopio and Siilinjärvi, Oulu and Rovaniemi.

The total number of new cases in the last two-week period of assessment (19 October – 1 November) was 2,658, while in the preceding two-week period (5–18 October) it was 2,885. The incidence of new cases was 48 per 100,000 inhabitants, while in the preceding two-week period it was 52.

Positive tests increasing

Between 26 October and 1 November, the number of new cases increased again, and the incidence of cases also grew from the previous week, the government says.

The number of people tested for coronavirus was smaller compared to the previous week. Some laboratories have, however, experienced delays in reporting their figures. The proportion of positive samples of all those tested has grown, and between 26 October and 1 November, it was 1.8%.

As more accurate numbers of tests become available, the number of positive samples of all those tested between 19 October and 1 November may also go down retroactively. 

Most new cases among the young

Most of the new cases are still reported among younger age groups and young adults.

During the period of 26 October – 1 November, people under 50 years of age accounted for nearly 80% of all cases and people under 30 years of age for nearly 50% of the cases.

People over 60 years of age accounted for less than 10% of the new cases, while people over 70 years of age accounted for only a few per cent of the cases.

Spread of the virus most common within families, according to information regarding tracing.

5% of cases of foreign origin

The information regarding the tracing of infections was compiled during the week beginning 26 October, and it covered a total of about 1,400 cases. Of these, 5% were of foreign origin.

The source of infection was identified in over 60% of cases of domestic origin. In the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, the source of infection was known in nearly half of the cases during the period of 26 October – 1 November.

As for the rest of the country, the source of infection remained unknown only in about one fifth of the cases.

In the majority of these cases (60%), the virus had spread within a family.  In 10–15% of the cases, the virus had spread during other meetings and private gatherings, and in about 10% of the cases at workplaces.

In 8% of the cases, the virus had spread through recreational activities.  Only 8% of the reported cases were traced back to educational institutions, despite large mass exposures.