Finland reports 5 more deaths in Helsinki, Oulu and Turku regions

On Saturday 9 May, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported 142 more coronavirus (koronavirus, in Finnish) infections. With them, the total number of laboratory-diagnosed cases rose to 5,880.

The health agency also reported 5 more deaths associated with the disease, bringing the total number of fatalities in Finland to 265.

The region of Helsinki-Uusimaa remains the epicenter and worst-hit area. According to official figures, to date, 4,172 cases of Covid-19 have been found in the capital metropolitan area. Of them, 2,164 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, Turku and Oulu

To date, the Helsinki University hospital special catchment area (HYKS) reported 215 fatalities (81% 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 5 deaths reported on Saturday, 2 occurred in the capital region, 2 in the Turku University Catchment area + Åland (TYKS) and 1 in the Oulu hospital area (OYS).

Helsinki-Uusimaa is also the region with the highest incidence of infections: there are already 247.5 diagnosed cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

For the whole country, the average incidence rate is less than half that in Helsinki: 106 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to THL. These rates grow everyday.

In intensive care units

On Saturday, the official number of patients hospitalized due to coronavirus nationwide was 161. And the number of people in intensive care units was 45.

According to a preliminary estimate by THL, there are at least 4,000 people who may have already recovered from the disease.

To date, Finnish laboratories have taken samples from approximately 119,100 people.