Situation update on coronavirus

Coronavirus COVID-19 – Latest Updates

Corona map: thl.fi/coronamap

The corona map is updated daily at noon. The map has information on daily numbers of confirmed cases and tested samples as well as cumulative numbers of confirmed cases and deaths. The map also shows the incidence of the disease, and the number of cases and tests by hospital district and municipality.

Updated on Thu, 17 December at 12:50

Finland’s situation in brief

  • Reported cases in total: 32,228 (+358*) 
  • Tested samples in total over 2,267,500 (+15,800*)         
  •  A total of 484 (+12*) deaths associated with the disease have been reported.
  • Number of patients in hospital district hospitals: 103 (+0*)
  • Number of patients in city and healthcare center hospitals: 134 (+3*)
  • The number of people in intensive care: 27 (-7*)

    The information was updated on Thursday 17 December and shows the change compared to yesterday. On the corona map, information about confirmed cases and tested specimens is updated every day. Case and sample volumes may be adjusted retrospectively as more information becomes available. Also see below for information on Reporting of data.
  • Information on the regional epidemic situation by hospital district:
    Regional restrictions and recommendations
  • Laboratories have a testing capacity of more than 26,000 samples per day. In addition, the introduction of antigen tests in some areas will further increase the capacity.
  • An estimated 22,500 people have recovered, which is about 70% of reported cases. The estimate is based on the follow-up of the observed cases over a period of three weeks (21 days). A person is considered to have recovered, when they do not have any follow-up data related to the progress of the illness after 3 weeks have passed from diagnosis. The estimate is updated once a week on Wednesdays, the estimate was last updated on 16 December.

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On this page

 

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).
 

Information by region

The regional incidence will be monitored in the situation review for 14-day monitoring periods. A comparison of 14 day monitoring periods will reflect changes in incidence and the status of the epidemic over a longer period of time.

Regional incidence has changed as follows during the last 14 days (1–14 December) compared to the previous 14-day monitoring period (17–30 November):

  • Incidence has increased in 9/21 regions compared to the previous 14 days.
  • The largest number of new cases have been recorded in the hospital districts of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme, Southwest Finland, North Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Central Finland, South Savo and Kymenlaakso.
  • In the other regions where new cases have been diagnosed, there have been under a hundred new cases per region during the latest 14-day monitoring period.
  • Incidence decreased or remained the same in 12/21 hospital districts.
  • New cases were diagnosed in all regions during the most recent 14-day monitoring period.

For more information on the regional epidemic situation by hospital district:
Regional restrictions and recommendations
 

People hospitalised due to coronavirus and deaths associated with the disease

Catchment area In specialised health care In healthcare center hospitals In intensive
care
Hospitalised,
total number
Deaths
(cumulative)
Helsinki University
Hospital catchment area
58 43 12 113 351
Kuopio University
Hospital catchment area
10 30 5 45 52
Oulu University
Hospital catchment area
9 6 3 18 26
Tampere University
Hospital catchment area
17 37 3 57 24
Turku University
Hospital catchment area
+ Åland
9 18 4 31 31
Nationwide total 103 134 27 264 484

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. The figures are based on information reported by the hospital districts. The patient situation is reported by catchment area to ensure patient privacy. Turku University Hospital catchment area also includes data for Åland. Information has been updated on 17 December.

The graph shows the number of people in hospital care and intensive care in Finland.The graph shows the number of people in hospital care and intensive care in Finland. The figures are based on information reported by the hospital districts. The information was updated on 17 December. As of week 50, more comprehensive information on COVID-19 patients in city and health center hospitals has also been reported to THL.

About intensive care

Coronavirus-related deaths

  • Until Thursday 17 December, the National Infectious Diseases Register has accumulated information on 470 fatalities and more detailed information is available on these. Of them, 50 percent were men and 50 percent were women. The median age of the deceased is 84.

The graph shows the age distribution of the deceased whose deaths were related to COVID-19.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 of a standard size. No further information will be given on these cases. Data source Infectious Diseases Register. The information has been updated on 17 December. The corona map shows the age distribution of deaths for age groups with more than 4 deaths.

  • More detailed information on where the deceased had been treated immediately prior to their death has been collected  from hospital districts on all 484 individuals:
    Of the deceased, 23 per cent were in specialised medical care, 39 per cent in primary health care units, 37 per cent in social welfare 24-hour units and 1 per cent at home or elsewhere.
  • The majority (over 95 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 overall mortality in Finland. Deaths among working-age people are very rare and no deaths related to coronavirus disease in children and adolescents have been reported in Finland.
  • The corona map has also information on deaths related to COVID-19 according to the date of death, and on the age distribution of the deceased. 

The current status of the epidemic in other countries

  • We update the current status of the epidemic in other countries once a week on Wednesday. You can look at the global situation daily from the links below.  
  • Globally, the incidence of new cases is currently highest on the American continents. A high number of cases is also still being reported in Europe and Russia.
  • In Europe, the largest number of new cases in relation to population have been reported in Serbia, Luxembourg, Croatia, Lithuania and Slovenia.
  • In Finland's neighbouring areas, incidence rates have risen considerably in almost all countries, mostly in Lithuania.
  • 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)

The graph shows the incidence of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the Nordic countries, Baltic states and Russia for the two previous 14-day monitoring periods.

The graph shows the incidence of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the Nordic countries, Baltic states and Russia for the two previous 14-day monitoring periods. The direction and colour of the arrow indicate a decrease (Green) or an increase (Red) in incidence. If the incidence has remained the same, it is shown in the graph with a green arrowhead. The graph's cases have been listed according to their reporting date based on publicly available information the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The graph is updated once a week on Wednesdays for the situation update. Graph updated on 16 December.

Reporting of information

  • Hospital districts report the numbers for patients in hospital care and deaths associated with the disease.
    • The hospital districts report the number of patients hospitalised for coronavirus in their area to THL, regardless of where the patient is being treated. The number of patients in hospital district hospitals has been comprehensively reported throughout the epidemic. On the other hand, information reported by the hospital districts on the number of patients in city and healthcare center hospitals has been partly incomplete. Patients receiving intensive care have been recorded separately throughout the epidemic.
  • New cases are reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register according to the date the sample was taken.
    • The reported new cases can be spread over several days due to reporting delays. Delays can be related to, for example, the recording of samples and data transfer.
    • The National Infectious Diseases Register automatically combines physician’s reports and laboratory reports concerning the same person into a single case. As data is combined, daily case numbers may change and become more specific,
    • Information may also change regionally, if more background information is available on persons and the cases are then recorded in another area.
    • All confirmed COVID-19 cases are reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register regardless of where the cases are treated.
    • The National Infectious Diseases Register (NIDR) retrieves information on deaths from the Population Information System on all cases recorded in the NIDR. It is estimated that COVID-19 has been involved in the chain of events leading to the death, if a person with a positive COVID-19 test result has died within one month after the initial sample collection. The estimated total number of deaths associated with the disease recorded in the National Infectious Diseases Register may differ from the numbers reported by hospital districts.
  • Tested samples are reported according to their date of analysis.
    • Laboratories report the number of tested samples to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare by hospital district. Data on sample numbers may also change when these are checked and specified retrospectively.
  • More information: Statistics on deaths related to COVID-19

See also

Research

THL is researching the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the population and regionally. For more information on studies, see below:

Infectious diseases and vaccinations