Updated on 1st April at 18:50.

• Tested samples: approx. 24,200 (+ approx. 1,600*)
• Laboratory-confirmed cases: 1,446 (+62*)
  * Change from previous day.
• 17 people have died of the disease.
• Data in the National Infectious Diseases Register is updated to the corona map each morning at 9.30. The total number of samples analysed in laboratories is only updated on weekdays.
• There may be delays in the reporting and recording of samples in the National Infectious Diseases Register.
• The actual number of infections in Finland is likely larger than reported, as not all those who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic are tested.

Hospitalised patients and patients who have died of coronavirus:

• At the moment, the patient situation is reported by catchment area to ensure patient protection, as the number of patients in catchment areas other than the Helsinki University Hospital catchment area is small.
• Finland’s hospital districts comprise five catchment areas, the centre of which is a university hospital.

Corona sampling in Finland

• Currently, around 2,500 COVID-19 samples can be tested per day, and Finland’s testing capacity is being increased as quickly as possible. While the capacity has been limited, THL and the hospital districts have had to work together in prioritising certain groups for sampling.
• Samples are primarily taken from patients with severe respiratory tract infection symptoms and from healthcare and social welfare personnel, so that the health of personnel and the adequacy of the workforce can be secured.
• When sampling capacity so allows sampling can also be ne performed on people with mild symptoms, those returning from abroad and other patient groups. It is now already possible for each hospital district and actor to test other suspected cases of corona infection. This possibility will expand constantly.
• Coronavirus samples are being collected and analysed by numerous laboratories in both the public and private sectors.
• THL is also testing samples collected for influenza laboratory based sample monitoring for coronavirus. So far, the samples have proved negative.

A summary of the situation in Finland

• The majority of cases diagnosed in Finland have been mild.
• A number of hospitalised patients have recovered and been discharged.
• Nevertheless, the risk of infection has increased throughout the country, and Finland is preparing for a larger scale epidemic
• The epidemic is progressing at different rates in different parts of the country. Infections have been observed in all of Finland’s regions, with Uusimaa having the largest number of cases.
• All infection chains are no longer known. Efforts are still being made to keep track of infection chains in order to slow down the progression of the epidemic.
• Finland has declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus epidemic. The Government has outlined measures that will aim to prevent new corona infections and slow the spread of the epidemic from Uusimaa region to other parts of Finland.
• Schools and educational institutions have been closed, restrictions have been applied to public meetings, travel and border crossing, and the capacity of social and health care services are being increased. These restrictions will be in force until 13 May.
• The Uusimaa region has been closed off from the rest of Finland. Traffic over the regional border is restricted with certain exceptions. Leisure travel across the Uusimaa regional border is not permitted. The travel restrictions will be in force until 19 April /2020.
• Read more on travel restrictions on the Prime Minister’s office website

The epidemic’s current situation in Europe

• More than 460,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Europe, and the epidemic is underway in numerous countries.
• More than half of all cases worldwide have been reported in Europe.
• Many European countries have closed their borders and imposed extensive restrictions on mobility and public and private sector activities.
• The majority of COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in Italy, and, in particular, in Spain the situation growing worse.
• A large number of cases have also been reported in the Nordic countries, a total of over 14,000 cases.
• Numbers of cases in the European countries (WHO)
• A summary of cases diagnosed in Europe on the ECDC website.
• COVID-19 (ECDC)

The situation with the epidemic outside Europe

• A total of more than 750,000 corona infections have been reported globally. More than 36,000 people have died of the disease.
• The vast majority of infected people have recovered.
• A total of 202 countries, regions and territories have reported infections.
• The epidemic is widely underway in many countries. including the United States, where more than 140,000 cases have been reported and the number of cases has grown rapidly.
• In the originating area in China, the epidemic appears to have subsided.
• Number of cases in different countries (WHO)
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (WHO)

Instructions for tourists

• Due to the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs urges that all travel abroad be avoided until further notice.
• Finnish travellers are advised to return to Finland as soon as possible.
• Information on the coronavirus, its prevention and treatment instructions will be distributed to all those arriving in the country.
• Finns returning from abroad who permanently living in Finland are encouraged to maintain a safe distance to other people and to remain in quarantine-like conditions for 14 days after their journey (home quarantine).

See also:

• Map application: coronavirus infections in Finland (in Finnish)
• Information about the disease: Coronavirus COVID-19
• Frequently asked questions about coronavirus COVID-19

Media enquiries

We are currently receiving a very large number of interview requests regarding coronavirus.

Please make all interview requests either by email to info(at)thl.fi or by telephone to +358 29 524 6161. The telephone number serves customers on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., requests can be sent by e-mail.