Finland coronavirus tally close to 6,000

On Monday 11 May, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported 22 more coronavirus (koronavirus, in Finnish) infections, an unusually low number. With them, the total number of laboratory-diagnosed cases rose to 5,984.

The health agency also reported 4 more deaths associated with the disease, bringing the total number of fatalities in Finland to 271.

The region of Helsinki-Uusimaa remains the epicenter and worst-hit area. According to official figures, to date, 4,262 cases of Covid-19 have been found in the capital metropolitan area. Of them, 2,213 have been diagnosed in the city of Helsinki.

However, health authorities admit the actual number of cases may be much higher, since people with mild symptoms are not generally tested.

New deaths all in Helsinki area

The 4 deaths reported on Monday occurred in the capital region.

To date, the Helsinki University hospital special catchment area (HYKS) reported 221 fatalities (81.5% of the country's total). This means four out of every five deaths caused by coronavirus have occurred in the Helsinki hospital area.

Source: THL.

Helsinki-Uusimaa is also the region with the highest incidence of infections: there are already 252.8 diagnosed cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

For the whole country, the average incidence rate is less than half that in Helsinki: 108 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to THL.

In intensive care units

On Monday, the official number of patients hospitalized due to coronavirus nationwide was 161. And the number of people in intensive care units was 44.

According to a preliminary estimate by THL, there are at least 4,000 people who may have already recovered from the disease.

To date, Finnish laboratories have taken samples from approximately 123,300 people.