Coronavirus outbreak
Finns meet 75% fewer people than usual in April : Survey
Published : 19 May 2020, 01:10
Updated : 19 May 2020, 10:10
Finns have met on average 75 per cent fewer people than usual in April due to the coronavirus outbreak, Found o a survey commissioned by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
During the week of the study, adults had about 2.5 social contacts a day. The majority (78 %) of the respondents said they met three persons or less.
In the oldest age group (70–79 years) of the study, the number of daily social contacts was only half of that of the working-age people. There were no differences in the number of contacts between the sexes.
On an average, there were 0.78 skin contacts per day, including hugs or kisses. In Uusimaa, the number of all contacts was almost 15 per cent lower than that in the rest of the country.
The data from the new study were compared with the results of the Polymod study carried out in 2005 under normal conditions. The average number of meetings this time was 75% lower than in that found the previous study. Both studies were carried out similarly, making
It possible to compare the results.
The number of skin contacts decreased the most in the 70- to 9-year age group and the least in the under-10 age group. The elderly had reduced their skin contacts the most, by up to 85%.
‘In April, the effective reproduction number of the coronavirus was under one in Finland. The decrease in contacts observed in the study explains very well why the epidemic was slowing down,’ said Professor Kari Auranen, who is responsible for the study.
The survey was carried out by Taloustutkimus on 21–25 April. 1,175 people aged 18–79 years from all over Finland took part in the survey. In addition, information was received from 165 children living in the same household with the respondents.