Coronavirus infection cases raise to 1446 in Finland

The number of coronavirus infection cases in Finland has risen to 1446, as 62 more cases were diagnosed on Wednesday in different areas of the country, said THL.

A total of 159 patients remain in hospital, including 62 in the intensive care unit.

Experts fear that the total number of people infected with coronavirus in Finland is much higher than the official figure counted by the authorities concerned.

As all the suspected cases are not being tested anymore, so the real number of infections is estimated to be much higher. Only the seriously ill and people in risk-groups, such as social and healthcare workers, are being tested in the country now.

The risk of infection has increased throughout Finland. In recent days, an increasing number of coronavirus infections have been diagnosed in the Uusimaa region.

Meanwhile, the authority is going to increase the coronavirus testing capacity by two times higher from the current 2,500 tests per day, reported National broadcaster Yle, quoting the Social Services Minister Krista Kiuru as saying.

Health Minister Aino-Kaisa Pekonen said that Finland had already spent hundreds of millions of euros on protective equipment for healthcare workers, and the first consignments would arrive this week, said the Yle report.

Pekonen said there was no shortage of kits nationally, but noted regional differences in availability, the report added.

The coronavirus death toll in Finland has risen to 17 so far.

THL said 12 people died in Helsinki-Uusimaa hospital district (HUS), three in Pohjois-Savon Hospital District (KYS), one in Tampere- Pirkanmaa (TAYS) Hospital District and one in Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (OYS) Hospital District.

The THL, however, did not divulge any details about the deceased considering their confidentiality.