Few people take coronavirus test in Xmas week

The number of coronavirus infections reported in Finland decreased during the Christmas week (21-27 December) as the number of coronavirus tests administered also fell significantly from the previous weeks.

It is therefore possible that cases will be reported with a delay in the near future, said a press release jointly issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday.

The total number of new cases in the last reporting period (21–31 December) was 3,950, which is almost 2,000 cases fewer than in the preceding two-week period. The incidence of new cases was 71 per 100,000 inhabitants and in the preceding two-week period it was 93 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The number of reported cases has decreased since the beginning of December, and it is possible that this favourable development has continued due to the extensive recommendations and restrictions.

However, the number of coronavirus tests carried out in the week of 21–27 December fell by approximately 25% from that in the previous two weeks.

The percentage of positive cases has remained at the same level as in the previous week, which is a good sign. It is nevertheless possible that because of the holidays, people with symptoms have not had themselves tested at the same low threshold as usual. This may result in an increase in the number of cases in the next few days and weeks.