Need for intensive care due to COVID-19 clearly declining in Finland

3 Feb 2022

It is particularly important that people aged 60 or over and those belonging to risk groups get a third vaccine dose.

On 2 February, there were 343 inpatients in specialised healthcare, while on 26 January, the number was 350. On 2 February, the total number of patients in intensive care was 38, compared to 48 in the week before. Between 24 and 30 January, a total of 38 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care, while in the preceding two weeks, the number varied between 35 and 60. An estimated 23 per cent of all COVID-19 patients on ordinary wards in specialised healthcare were admitted for some other reason than COVID-19. The percentage was 21 for intensive care.

On 2 February 2022, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 2,012. In the past two weeks (19 January–2 February), a total of 250 deaths were reported. People over 70 years of age accounted for 82 per cent of the deaths.

Although there are many cases being reported among vaccinated people, vaccines continue to be very effective in preventing severe forms of the disease. It is recommended that particularly people aged 60 or over and those belonging to risk groups take a third vaccine dose.

By 2 February, 87.4 per cent of people in Finland who are 18 years of age or over had received at least one vaccine dose, 84.7 per cent at least two vaccine doses and 55.3 per cent three vaccine doses. Over the past week (27 January–2 February), the uptake of the third vaccine dose rose by 3.9 percentage points. The increase in the uptake has slowed down slightly.

Around 139,000 COVID-19 tests were taken between 24 and 30 January.

Based on wastewater samples collected on 30 and 31 January 2022, the overall levels of coronavirus RNA in Finland’s wastewater have started to fall after an upward trend which lasted for several weeks. During the last five times when the levels of coronavirus RNA in wastewater have been measured, it has become clear that the amount of RNA has started to decrease at most wastewater treatment plants where samples have been collected. The possible decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases is not reflected immediately in the levels of RNA in wastewater, because coronavirus RNA is known to be excreted in the faeces of infected people for approximately three weeks after contracting the virus.
The whole of Finland continues to match the characteristics of a community transmission area.
The epidemiological situation is monitored weekly. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare publishes the key monitoring information on the COVID-19 epidemic on its reporting website.

Inquiries:

Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki
Chief Specialist
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
[email protected]

Taneli Puumalainen
Director General
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
[email protected]

Anna Katz
Project Manager
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
[email protected]

Mia Kontio
Chief Specialist
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
[email protected]

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