Finland exceeds 5 infections per 100,000 inhabitants

The number and incidence of new Covid-19 infections in Finland is increasing week by week. And although it is still relatively low at the national level, there are significant spikes in infections, especially in the Helsinki-Uusimaa area.

The latest assessment released by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health shows that the incidence of new cases during the analyzed two-week period (3-16 August) was 5.4 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, while in the preceding period (20 July-2 August) it was 2.5 per 100,000 people.

Reproduction number

Currently, the estimated basic reproduction number is 1.30-1.50, with a 90% probability. This value indicates how much the virus is spreading. A reproduction rate higher than 1 means that, on average, each patient carrying the disease infects more than one person.

Finland has set 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous 14 days - or alternatively 10 cases for certain countries - as the maximum limit to allow unrestricted entry of travelers from abroad.

Now the country is approaching its own limit. And it is possible that in the capital area it has already exceeded it, since 5.4 cases per 100,000 people is the current average value for the entire country. The incidence of the virus is very low outside Helsinki-Uusimaa.

In the 3-16 August period, 299 new cases have been reported to the communicable diseases register. But no cases were reported in 10 hospital districts across the country over the most recent seven-day follow-up period, according to the Ministry's figures.

Blocking flights

According to the government's assessment, new cases of both domestic and foreign origin have been recently reported in Finland. 

Infections come from several countries, although there are certain areas that are of more concern than others for the government. Finland announced on Wednesday the reestablishment of border controls with 10 countries. And there has been a bitter controversy within the government regarding the control of flights from countries at risk.

For example, during this week, the Minister of Transport Timo Harakka (SDP) proposed blocking flights from Skopje (North Macedonia). The proposal was publicly opposed by Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo (Green League), considering that this could violate the constitutional right of Finns to return to their country. 

The controversial issue has been passed to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), which will issue a decision in a few days.

Total infections and deaths

On 19 August 2020, the total number of cases in Finland was 7,805. And the number of deaths related to the disease was 334.

Of the total cases reported, 5,668 (or 72%) had been found in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region. A total of 7 patients were receiving hospital care on 19 August, but none were in intensive care.

It is estimated that 7,100 people, over 90% of all confirmed cases, have recovered from the disease.