The situation is getting worse in Finland too. Finnish health authorities reported on Sunday a total of 105 new laboratory-diagnosed cases of coronavirus (koronavirus, in Finnish). So far, Finland has recorded 626 cases of Covid-19.
There are 43 patients hospitalized. Of them, 12 are in intensive care units.
So far, one death caused by coronavirus was admitted last Saturday, but authorities refused to disclose the gender and the age of the victim. The only information known is that it was an "elderly" person from the Helsinki-Uusimaa Hospital District. Local press has responded with harsh criticism to this lack of transparency in these exceptional moments.
In fact, this patient died last Friday, but authorities took one day to report it.
According to the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL, in its Finnish acronym), the above figures are based on laboratory-verified numbers collected manually directly from the hospital districts.
The Register of Communicable Diseases has been notified, to date, a total of 418 cases, this is 208 less than those reported by hospitals. THL admitted that the new system may cause "delays and regional variations." Of the reported cases, 61% are men and 39% are women.
Olemme jälleen päivittäneet #koronavirus -tilannekatsauksen (su 22.3. klo 14).
— THL (@THLorg) March 22, 2020
Suomessa on tähän mennessä:
🔹Testattu lähes 10 000
🔹Vahvistettuja tartuntoja 626
🔹Sairaalahoidossa 43
🔹Niistä tehohoidossa 12
🔹Menehtyneitä 1
Lue lisää ⬇ https://t.co/LhRKX8EJdu pic.twitter.com/Anjb3fnQ6f
The President of THL admitted recently that the actual number of infections may be 20 or 30 times higher. The reason for this gap is that in Finland only people with severe respiratory symptoms are tested. Those with mild symptoms are simply requested to stay at their homes.
Pubs and shopping malls open
And as the cases of people affected by the Covid-19 increase across the country, many inhabitants are stunned at the lack of action by the coalition government led by the Social Democrat Sanna Marin. Amid the state of emergency, authorities continue to allow bars, restaurants, shops, and shopping malls to remain open.
Ppl get out of the fucking bars and go home or I’ll come and remove you violently myself after my hospital shift ends. You want another Italy here? Here’s a thread for you:
— Esa-Pekka Pälvimäki (@eppe) March 21, 2020
Italy death toll from coronavirus has risen by 793 in the past 24 hours to 4,825
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Iltalehti newspaper, the most widely read by Finns on the Internet, reported on Sunday that the previous night in Helsinki pubs and bars were open and with clients. According to the report, they attended a karaoke session in a well-known pub in the capital, where customers passed the microphone to each other, without proper disinfection.
Helsingin Sanomat, the main daily newspaper in Helsinki, drew attention to the fact that, while the Government asks citizens to remain at home, the main shopping malls in and around the Helsinki area remain open and even launching sales campaigns.
The Government has not yet ordered restaurants and pubs to close. Photo: Foreigner.fi
Restaurants and schools
The same is happening with restaurants and food outlets.
Foreigner.fi has verified that they continue to receive customers and sell food, despite the country being in a state of emergency.
Another restaurant open in a shopping center on Sunday in Helsinki Area. Photo: Foreigner.fi.
People's outings have also not been limited, and on Sunday people were walking and doing sports outside, oblivious to the catastrophe that is happening around the world. Only public gatherings of more than 10 people have been banned.
Another decision that has sparked controversy is the government's change of mind regarding schools.
Starting this Monday, children in grades 1-3 can return to school if their parents consider it appropriate.
