The coronavirus continues to challenge Finnish society, which is counting new cases by the thousands despite restrictive measures implemented by the government led by Social Democratic Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
Finland recorded 5,501 coronavirus infections and 11 deaths associated with Covid-19 disease in the past 7 days (4-11 August), according to the weekly case count from the National Institute of Health and Welfare (THL).
THL's fresh figures show that the epidemic does not give truce to the health system. 844 new infections were reported on Wednesday alone.
To date, 114,281 cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed in Finland. The disease has killed 955 people since the start of the epidemic.
The incidence of the virus continues to rise and on Wednesday stood at 173.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants throughout the country during the last two-week period. In the previous 14-day period, the incidence had been much lower, 93.2 according to THL.
Community transmission
But the situation is more complicated in the southern areas of the country, including the capital region, where there is the highest population density. These areas have been classified in the phase of community transmission of the disease.
According to THL, in the Helsinki-Uusimaa area the incidence is now 281 per 100,000 inhabitants, having been 164 in the previous two-week period.
In the Turku area and its surroundings (Southwest Finland), the incidence reached 210 cases per 100,000 residents on Thursday, compared to 110 in the previous two weeks.
In the Tampere region (Pirkanmaa) the incidence rose to 201 cases on Wednesday, up from 91 in the previous two-week period.
During the summer, the Finnish authorities have blamed the increase in infections on young people, bars and restaurants and travelers from other countries.
