The number of deaths caused by coronavirus continues to grow.
On the same day that Finns read with hope that the number of infections registered in the country was lower, the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported the highest number of deaths recorded in 24 hours since the epidemic began.
According to THL, 4 more people joined on Tuesday the already long list of deaths by Covid-19. To date, 17 people died from the disease in Finland.
This may seem a small number compared to what is happening in other European countries, but it is too high for a population accustomed to staying out of the disasters that hit the world.
Most of these deaths (12) have occurred in the Helsinki area and its surroundings (HYKS). In this region also 100 people have been hospitalized.
In the last 24 hours, 2 people died in the HYKS special responsibility area. The other 2 deaths occurred in the KYS special responsibility area (Kuopio).
Source: THL.
More in intensive care
According to the health agency, so far 22,600 samples have been carried out in Finland (approximately 1,000 more in the last 24 hours) and 1,384 people tested positive. This is 71 more than in the previous day.
These are the cases which hospital districts have reported to the national Register of Communicable Diseases. However, health authorities admit that the actual number of infections is likely to be much higher, because normally Finnish authorities only test people with severe respiratory symptoms. On Monday, the government said in an informative briefing headed by the Prime Minister Sanna Marin that sampling and testing will be increased to curb the epidemic.
Meanwhile, the number of patients admitted to hospitals has dropped to 137 (from 143 the in previous day). This means some people are recovering, as THL says.
But the bad news is that the number people requiring intensive care continues to increase. On Tuesday, 56 patients were placed in intensive care units. This is 7 more or 14.2% more than last Monday. And 25 more than last Saturday.
Risk increasing
THL says the risk of getting infected "has increased throughout the country and Finland is preparing for a wider epidemic." Not all chains of infection are known and the virus has been found in all Finnish provinces.
The Government has declared a state of emergency and schools and colleges have been closed, public gatherings, movement and border crossings are restricted and social and health care capacity is being increased. Restrictions are effective until 13 May.
