Updated on 29 May at 17.40.

The situation in Finland in brief

• Tested samples in total approximately 179,400 (+ approx. 2,800*)
• Reported cases in total: 6,776 (+ 33*)
• A total of 314 (+ 1*) deaths associated with the disease have been reported.
• The number of patients in hospital care in Finland is 74 (- 9*).
• The number of patients in intensive care in Finland is 10 (- 1).
  * Change from previous day. The number of newly reported cases  can be spread over the past several days, for example due to reporting delays due to a weekend.
• In relation to the total population of Finland (5,543,233), the overall incidence of cases is 122 cases per 100,000 people.
• During the most recent seven-day monitoring period (20–26 May), 235 new cases were diagnosed. The incidence of new cases in relation to the population was 4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. During the previous monitoring period (13–19 May), the corresponding figures were 320 new cases, with an incidence of 6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
  • Reporting delays can affect the numbers stated for the most recent monitoring period. It is therefore not possible to draw any certain conclusions on the increase or decrease of cases on the basis of the most recent monitoring period.
• Virus testing currently has a capacity of around 9,600 tests per day.
• An estimated 5,500 people have recovered. The estimate is based on reported cases which were reported at least 3 weeks (21 days) ago and for which no other monitoring data on the course of the disease exists. (Estimate updated on 28 May.)

See also

• THL corona map
• More information on the corona map.
• THL symptoms map

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On this page

• Information by region
• About intensive care
• Coronavirus-related deaths
• Testing in Finland 
• Hybrid Strategy indicators
• Reporting of information
• The current status of the epidemic in other countries

Information by region

• The coronavirus epidemic has continued to slow down. The epidemic’s status is different in different parts of the country, the majority of cases have been diagnosed in Uusimaa.
• The emergence of new cases varies based on region. The number of cases diagnosed in Finland has decreased significantly for over a month.
• During the most recent seven-day monitoring period (20–26 May), the incidence of cases had decreased or remained the same in most hospital districts compared to the seven day monitoring period prior to this one. No new cases were diagnosed in eight areas during the most recent monitoring period.
• The incidence of cases has risen in eight areas. Compared to the previous week, the number of new cases has been very low (less than five new cases per area) in all areas in which cases have been diagnosed.
• THL is conducting an ongoing population study based on random sampling, which assesses the spread of the novel coronavirus in the population. The study examines the presence of antibodies in different age groups and in Finland’s different regions. Thus far, results have shown that very few people have formed antibodies for the novel coronavirus. Results will be published online in the weekly report on the corona epidemic’s population serology study.

Persons hospitalised due to coronavirus and deaths associated with the disease

The table shows the number of patients that have been hospitalised due to COVID-19 and the number of deaths associated with the disease by catchment area. At the moment, patient numbers are reported by catchment area to ensure patient privacy, because the number of patients in several hospital districts is small. Information updated on 29 May at 8.00. 

• The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital and intensive care has decreased in all of Finland’s catchment areas.

The graph shows the number of people in hospital care due to having contracted COVID-19 in relation to a million residents by catchment area. Turku University Hospital catchment area also includes data for Åland. The graph is updated on business days. NB! Graph updated 28 May.

The graph shows the number of people in intensive care due to having contracted COVID-19 in relation to a million residents by catchment area. Turku University Hospital catchment area also includes data for Åland. The graph is updated on business days. NB! Graph updated 28 May.

About intensive care

• A national office for the coordination of intensive care headed by the Kuopio University Hospital (KUS) maintains the national situational picture on intensive care (in Finnish).
• Weekly reports provide more information on intensive care capacity, treatment periods, age and gender distribution and on the previous health status of patients.
  • Situational picture on intensive care on 27/05/2020 (Office coordinating intensive care)

Coronavirus-related deaths

• Data on the amount of deaths associated with the disease is collected by the hospital districts.
• For the time being, more detailed information is available on 303 of the fatalities. Of them, 48 percent were men and 52 percent were women. The median age of the deceased is 84.
• NB! The situational picture published yesterday 28 May had an error concerning deaths associated with the disease in the 10–19 age group. No deaths associated with the disease have been observed in Finland in the 10–19 age group. The erroneous data was due to a registration error.

The graph shows the age distribution of the deceased whose deaths were related to COVID-19. The protection of privacy has been taken into account in the breakdown of age groups. For example, if there are 1–4 cases, the number is reported in the statistic as <5, and is shown in the graph with a light grey column of a standard size. No further information will be given on these cases. Information updated on 29 May.

• More detailed information on where the deceased were treated immediately prior to their death has been collected on 313 individuals:
  • Of the deceased, 19 per cent were in specialised medical care, 34 per cent in primary health care units, 45 per cent in social welfare 24-hour units and 2 per cent at home or elsewhere.
• The majority (over 90 percent) of the deceased persons for whom more detailed health information is available had one or more long-term illnesses.
• The coronavirus epidemic has not increased total mortality in Finland. Deaths of working-age people are very rare, and no deaths of children and young people have been diagnosed in Finland.

Testing of coronavirus samples in Finland

• Virus testing at the acute phase of illness and tracing of infections can be used to prevent the spread of coronavirus, to protect risk groups and to ensure the adequacy of critical personnel and the carrying capacity of health care services. In addition, a situational picture that is as precise as possible will be created on the progress of the epidemic in Finland.
• The goal is to test everyone suspected of having an acute stage coronavirus infection.
• The number of infections in Finland is likely higher than reported, as not all those with mild symptoms were tested in the early stages of the epidemic, and there is little data available on asymptomatic infections.
• Coronavirus samples are being collected and analysed by numerous laboratories in both the public and private sectors.
• The coronavirus test indicates an acute infection. Antibody tests can be used to monitor the progress of the epidemic, but are not as of yet reliable in assessing whether or not an individual has had the disease.

Indicators on the effectiveness of Finland's hybrid strategy

• The effectiveness of Finland's hybrid strategy in combating the coronavirus epidemic is monitored using epidemiological, medical, and functional indicators.
• The monitoring report by the Situational Picture and Modelling Working Group appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is published once a week on the THL website:
  • Monitoring of the coronavirus (in Finnish)
  • Situation assessment report 28 May 2020 (pdf, in Finnish)

Reporting of information

• There are delays in the reporting of data, which are due to factors such as the recording of samples, the transfer of data and the reporting of deaths. The reporting is developed continuously.
• Information on sample numbers and the number of new cases diagnosed each day may change as information is corrected retrospectively.
  • Laboratories report the number of tested samples to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare by hospital district. Tested samples are reported according to their date of analysis.
  • All confirmed COVID-19 cases are reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register regardless of where the cases are treated. Cases are reported according to the date the sample was taken.

The current status of the epidemic in other countries

• A total of nearly 5.6 million coronavirus infections have been reported globally. Over 350,000 deaths associated with the disease have been reported.
• A total of over 2 million cases of coronavirus and more than 175,000 deaths associated with the disease have been reported in Europe (WHO European Region).
• Many European countries have closed their borders and imposed extensive restrictions on mobility and public and private sector activities. Numerous countries have initiated the phasing out of restrictions.
• A total of over 63,000 cases and more than 5,300 deaths associated with the disease have been reported in the Nordic countries.
• Number of cases in different countries (WHO)  
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (WHO)
• Numbers of cases in European countries (WHO)
• A summary of cases diagnosed in Europe on the ECDC website.
• COVID-19 (ECDC)