May Day gatherings result rise of local COVID-19 clusters

The decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases that had continued for weeks stalled between 3 and 9 May, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.

Social contacts outside the family circle played a major role as a source of infection. Local COVID-19 clusters have emerged throughout the country as a result of private Labour Day gatherings, for example.

There is a real risk that we will see a resurgence of the epidemic, especially among young adults.

On 10 May 2021, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health made the decision to discontinue the nationwide tiers of COVID-19 prevention measures. Going forward, COVID-19 prevention in Finland will focus on regional restrictions and recommendations.

The latest change in the development of the epidemic shows that the recommendations and restrictions in place must be lifted moderately.

Currently, the number of new cases in the country is at the same level as in October 2020.

Between 3 and 9 May, about 1,500 new cases were reported to the communicable diseases register, showing an increase of about 100 cases from the previous week. The incidence of new cases was 27 per 100,000 inhabitants between 3 and 9 May, while in the previous week it was 25.

The total number of new cases reported in the last two-week period was almost 2,880, which is about 670 cases fewer than in the preceding two-week period. The incidence of new cases was 52 per 100,000 inhabitants, while in the preceding two-week period it was 64.

The estimated basic reproduction number is slightly higher than the week before; currently, it is 0.8–1.0, with a 90 per cent probability.

More than 130,000 COVID-19 tests were taken between 3 and 9 May, while in the previous week the number of tests taken was about 116,000. Between 3 and 9 May, the percentage of positive samples of those tested was the same as the week before, about 1.2 per cent.

Between 3 and 9 May, the incidence of cases grew among 10–59-year-olds compared to the previous week. The incidence increased the most among 30–39-year-olds, by 19 per cent compared to the previous week.

In Finland, 89 per cent of people aged 70 or older and 35 per cent of all those over 16 have already received their first vaccine dose. The vaccine rollout has now largely moved from risk groups to working-age people. It is estimated that all those aged 16 or over will have received their first vaccine dose by the end of July.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital care was highest at the end of March before Easter (between 22 March and 4 April). Compared to this, the total number of patients in hospital care has reduced by more than 60 per cent.

Between 3 and 9 May, the number of inpatients in specialised and primary healthcare decreased from the previous week, but the number of inpatients in intensive care has remained more or less the same. According to the forecast, the number of periods in specialised healthcare and intensive care in Finland over the next week will be slightly lower than what was predicted last week.