Here’s our evening round-up of the latest coronavirus news from Finland:
- Latest numbers and casualties
- Government to think again on “lousy” restaurant rescue package
- Ministers self-isolate in Covid-19 precaution
- Police launch investigation into nursing home deaths
- Under-fire public health chief receives support from colleagues, PM
- Lännen Media: Coronavirus restrictions slowed other infectious diseases
Latest coronavirus numbers and casualties
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL says there have been 5,673 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Finland since the first positive test at the end of January. Today’s number is an increase of 100 from the day before.
There have also been 255 coronavirus-related deaths reported, an increase of 3 from the previous day.
Around the country there are currently 174 patients in hospital receiving treatment for coroanvirus, including 44 in intensive care. The majority of hospitalizations and ICU patients are in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District.
THL notes that the number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients in most hospital areas has now leveled off.
Government to think again on “lousy” restaurant rescue package
The Government is to reconsider its compensation package for restaurants, cafes and licensed premises after a chorus of complaints that the deal, unveiled just 24 hours before, is deeply flawed.
The €123 million plan included an element worth €83 million to cover lost revenues during the time that businesses were legally obliged to close from early April until end of May. The amount each restaurant, cafe or bar could claim was calculated at 15% of the difference between their average January and February takings, and what they made in April.
Centre Party ministers were the first to break cover and concede there’s a problem that needs to be looked at more closely. Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä told Talouselämä that he wants Parliament to see if there are alternatives to using January and February as the best comparison months, saying he’s aware there are many seasonal restaurants in Finland.
Minister of Finance Katri Kulmuni (Centre) tells News Now Finland in a statement that she appreciates many restaurants have low sales at the start of the year and that “these important issues will be taken into account in the parliamentary deliberations.
“As many restaurants as possible will receive support” says Kulmuni. Read more here.
Ministers self-isolate in Covid-19 precaution
The entire Finnish government cabinet will work from home at least until the end of this week, after two ministers and, separately, a senior politician, may have been exposed to coronavirus.
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen (Left) and Minister of Labour Tuula Haatainen (SDP) might have come into contact on Tuesday with someone suspected of having coronavirus. That person has been tested and results will be available within two days.
Pekonen and Haatainen will self-isolate as a precaution and the Prime Minister has instructed the rest of the cabinet to stay at home and work remotely until the results of the test is known. “Let’s take care of each other”, former presidential candidate Haatainen writes on Twitter.
Separately, Antti Kurvinen, the Chairman of the Centre Party Parliamentary Group has also gone to self-isolation after possibly being in contact with someone who has Covid-19. The Oulu MP says he will get a test as soon as possible. Read more here.
Police launch investigation into nursing home deaths
Police in Eastern Finland have launched a formal preliminary investigation into the Kallionsydän nursing home in Kiuruvesi where a number of elderly people died from coronavirus.
The criminal charges being considered include occupational safety offenses, breach of duty of care, and giving false certificates to authorities. Police are also looking into the causes of deaths of residents at the elderly care home, which is run by the Ylä-Savo healthcare authority. Other criminal charges might be considered as the investigation continues.
Officials say the pre-trial investigation will likely takes several months as there is a lot of documentary evidence to consider, and up to 50 people will be questioned about events at the facility.
Under-fire public health chief receives support from colleagues, PM
The public health official who has become the face of Finland’s fight against coronavirus has found himself also the target of criticism of some politicians, sections of the media and scientific critics over his handling of the crisis.
Professor Mika Salminen, Director of Health Security at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL, has been variously accused of favouring a herd immunity strategy which is said will lead to lots more deaths; losing the trust of his THL colleagues; basing his advice on opinions rather than scientific facts; not releasing enough information; and in one scathing editorial column in Ilta-Sanomat newspaper this week he was was strongly criticised for having too much power as an un-elected official.
The Director General of THL Markku Tervahuata has hit back at critics with a statement on social media defending his colleague Salminen.
“Mika Salminen has the full support of the THL community. His assessments of the coronavirus are not ‘only opinions’ but are based on researched knowledge. We hope that Salminen will be able to continue his official work without undue criticism” says Tervehauta.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) also added her thoughts on social media, warning against politicizing the work of public health officials. Read more here.
Report: Coronavirus restrictions slow other illnesses
Measures put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus in Finland have also had an impact on the spread of other infectious diseases.
Lännen Media reports on Thursday that the number of cases of seasonal influenza in March and April this year was half the number from the year before.
Experts say this is a picture seen across other Nordic countries as well.
Other contact illnesses are also declining this spring such as norovirus, and also some sexually transmitted infections.
