Finland reports 5 deaths and 97 more infections in the last 24 hours

On Tuesday, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported 97 more coronavirus infections (koronavirus, in Finnish).

With those nearly hundred new infections, the total number of laboratory-diagnosed cases rose to 3,161.

THL also reported on Tuesday 5 more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 64.

However, the actual figures are likely to be higher, as the usual delay in collecting statistics adds to the fact that Friday and Monday have been national holidays in Finland and that the percentage of tests carried out by the laboratories remains low.

1,987 infections found in the capital area

Helsinki-Uusimaa remains the epicenter and region hardest hit by the epidemic. According to official figures, 1,987 cases of Covid-19 have been found in the capital metropolitan area. Of them, 1,117 in the city of Helsinki. 

Of the five deaths reported on Tuesday, four occurred in the Helsinki metropolitan area (HYKS) and one in the North Savo (KYS), which has Kuopio as the main city. So far, the vast majority of the deaths (43) recorded in Finland occurred in the hospital area of Helsinki-Uusimaa.

The Helsinki-Uusimaa region also remains the region with the highest incidence of infections: 117.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

The region with the second highest incidence of the virus is North West Finland (Länsi Pohja), which has 89.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The situation has worsened during the Easter holiday in this area which borders with Sweden.

Intensive care

On Tuesday, the official number of patients hospitalized due to coronavirus was 232. And the number of people admitted to intensive care units was 75.

In relation to the total Finnish population (5,526,774), the average incidence rate of cases is 57 per 100,000 inhabitants.

According to THL, to date, Finnish laboratories have taken samples from approximately 47,300 people.