Finland reports 3 coronavirus deaths and 100 new infections

On Thursday 7 May, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported 100 more coronavirus (koronavirus, in Finnish) infections. With them, the total number of laboratory-diagnosed cases rose to 5,673.

The health agency also reported 3 more deaths associated with the disease, bringing the total number of fatalities in Finland to 255.

The region of Helsinki-Uusimaa remains the epicenter and worst-hit area. According to official figures, to date, 4,008 cases of Covid-19 have been found in the capital metropolitan area. Of them, 2,089 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 in Helsinki and Kuopio

To date, the Helsinki University hospital special catchment area (HYKS) reported 209 fatalities (82% of the country's total). This means four out of every five deaths caused by coronavirus have occurred in the Helsinki hospital area.

Of the 3 deaths reported on Thursday, 2 occurred in the capital region and 1 in the Kuopio University special catchment area (KYS), where so far 23 fatalities have been reported.

Helsinki-Uusimaa is also the region with the highest incidence of infections: there are already 237.7 diagnosed cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

For the whole country, the average incidence rate is less than half that in Helsinki: 102 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to THL.

Source: THL.

In intensive care units

On Thursday, the official number of patients hospitalized due to coronavirus was 174. And the number of people in intensive care units was 44 (unchanged from the previous day).

According to a preliminary estimate by THL, there are at least 3,500 people who may have already recovered from the disease.

To date, Finnish laboratories have taken samples from approximately 112,100 people.