The state of the Covid-19 epidemic varies from country to country, but it is still in full swing, Director of the Department of Health and Welfare (THL) Mika Salminen told reporters on Tuesday.
"There is no visible slowdown, but the pandemic is still in full swing," Salminen told about the situation in the update.
Salminen pointed out that resolute action, which does not necessarily mean complete deadlock in society, can still affect the development of the epidemic.
Six areas still in the acceleration phase
Six Finnish territories are considered to be "accelerating" in stage Vaasa Hospital District is classified as a "spread" stage. Vaasa has registered the most new cases of coronavirus last week, along with Central Finland and the Helsinki metropolitan area. Hospital authorities and regional government officials reassessed the local situation on Thursday, experts said.
One variable that is monitored by public health authorities is the incidence of the disease, which is currently 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Nationwide, however, the variations are large – for example, in the Helsinki University Hospital District (HUS) it is currently more than 80 cases per 100,000.
In the urban environment of Vaasa, where the epidemic is said to be spreading, the incidence rate is about 600 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and it is slightly more than 300 cases per 100,000 in the entire hospital district.
"The situation in Vaasa has calmed down a bit in recent days. It considers that effective action by local government and the hospital district has improved the situation," THL senior doctor Taneli Puumalainen said at a news conference.
According to Puumalainen, there is no single prediction of when the epidemic will culminate in Finland, and added that everything depends on the success of control measures.
Infections are now more common among young adults
This fall, coronavirus infections have been more common among young people than in the spring, when the average age of positive tests was 48. This fall, the average age was 38. However, THL officials noted that testing capacity was limited earlier in the year and fewer tests were given.
Longevity remains a major factor in the development of serious diseases. It increases the risk of hospitalization and death. People with pre-existing conditions are two to three times more likely to be hospitalized or die, the THL noted.
People over the age of 70 are at particular risk, as are people with diseases that affect lung or heart function or endanger the immune system.
These include cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and chronic lung disease and diseases or medications that cause liver or kidney failure, as well as connective tissue disease and rheumatism.
Source: The Nordic Page