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Now tracking the new emerging South Africa Omicron Variant

India variant in Finland

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Dutch Josh View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: India variant in Finland
    Posted: May 16 2021 at 2:01am

EdwardSm-You have more info ? 

From [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO6oSJbBwbE[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO6oSJbBwbE Dr. John Campbell comments; Simon H;A city close to me in Finland, probably the least affected city by covid, they've had 0-1 cases/day during the whole year. Well they had a mysterious case of an indian variant, detected 2 weeks ago. Now they have 56 infected, 1 hopitalised and over 400 quarantined. Things may change quickly. They did not manage to trace where the first infected got it from.

DJ-in reactions/answers he further writes; Infected number was 56 not 66, my memory was wrong. This is in kokkola, soite is the health care area in question. The population is about 50K. I can't find any nice links to share that are in english.

-

not sure about the flights really, they have been talking abour border testing for months and still they can't seem to implement a fail safe system. Last week they reported about someone that landed, skipped testing at the airport and instead travelled several 100kms before getting tested, he also had an indian variant. You can still travel to estonia and sweden, without much trouble, if you like, estonia by boat or by car to sweden works well. I'd guess international airtravel would require some testing.

DJ  [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokkola[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokkola In the [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineage_B.1.617#Statistics[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineage_B.1.617#Statistics I find 3 cases reported by [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/indian_covid_variant_reaches_finland/11907273[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/indian_covid_variant_reaches_finland/11907273 ...

Latest news [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/covid_hotspot_lahti_awaits_extra_vaccines_police_break_up_park_parties/11932482[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/covid_hotspot_lahti_awaits_extra_vaccines_police_break_up_park_parties/11932482 ;

On Saturday the THL identified south-central Lahti as the city with the highest number of new coronavirus infections, 27. Tampere and Helsinki each reported 18 cases.

Although more infections were detected in Lahti than Helsinki, the region with the highest number of infections was still the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), where 48 new infections were diagnosed. In the Päijät-Häme district, 31 new infections were detected.

Nationwide, the THL reported 192 new cases since Friday. There were 390 fewer new cases during the past two weeks than during the previous fortnight. The daily number of new cases has remained below 300 since 18 April.

The incidence rate of infections has continued to decline nationally, falling to 51 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks.

DJ [url]https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19221-finnish-capital-region-eases-restrictions-on-outdoor-activities-private-events.html[/url] or https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19221-finnish-capital-region-eases-restrictions-on-outdoor-activities-private-events.html ...

If there were 3 cases of the India variant a few weeks ago it could have grown into 56-given doubling time less then a week...

A further search/translate has the following: [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11930846[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11930846 ;

Central Ostrobothnia already close to the spread of the corona - 6 cases of the Indian variant found, 66 infections spread from the Kokkola cluster

This week, 46 coronary infections have been diagnosed in the Central Ostrobothnia Hospital District, ten new ones were reported on Friday. The chain of transmission has spread north to several municipalities, including Kalajoki, Nivala and Ylivieska.

66 infections have already spread in Central Ostrobothnia from the corona cluster that left the Kokkola restaurant 's May Day brunch . Today, ten new infections emerged.

One of the previously identified infections has been confirmed as an Indian variant and today five more Indian variants were identified.

During this week, 46 coronary infections have already been diagnosed in the Central Ostrobothnia Hospital District.

DJ-So my impression is there may be a major cluster of the India variant in Finland ???

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2021 at 2:34am

DJ-Looking further into the Finland story; [url]https://korona.soite.fi/[/url] or https://korona.soite.fi/ has online-very good-info on where the virus may have spread !

Information updated on 15.5.2021

  • Today's situation: 14 new infections (15.5.2021).
  • Last positive coronary infection detected: 15.5.2021 (14 infections)
  • In hospital: 1 coronavirus patient (15.5.2021)
  • Number of infections in the last 14 days: 56 (13.5.2021)
  • Incidence in the last 14 days / 100,000 inhabitants:
    85 (14.5.2021)
  • 1.2% of coronavirus tests are positive.
  • Infections diagnosed since the beginning of the pandemic Calling the region in total:
    343Link: statistics )
  • Traceability of supply chains 80%
  • Coronavirus epidemic phase in Central Ostrobothnia: acceleration phase

Possible exposure situations:

  • with 2.5. 3 pm-7pm Word of Faith Church Finland worship, Kokkola
  • ti 4.5. 6.30 - 7.30 Fitness center LiikkuKokkola
  • ti 4.5. 16.30-18.00 Fitness center Liikku, Kokkola
  • ti 4.5. at 7-8 Swimming Center Vesiveijari, Kokkola
  • ke 5.5. 11 am - 1 pm Central Ostrobothnia Vocational College (Närvilänkatu 8 unit) Jobster event, Kokkola
  • ke 5.5. 15.00-16.00 Kokkola bowling alley
  • ke 5.5. 19-20.30 Swimming center Vesiveijari, Kokkola
  • to 6.5. Tervahovi Pharmacy, Kokkola
  • to 6.5. 18.30-18.45 ABC Heinolankaari, Kokkola
  • to 6.5. 21-22 McDonald's, Kokkola
  • Thu 6.5.2021 around 9.00 - 9.15 Café Kulma, Kokkola
  • Thu 6.5.2021 approx. 6.50-7.30 Osmo Aho Oy bus service between Kaustinen - Kokkola Vocational Campus
  • Thu 6.5.2021 approx. 13.45-14.30 Osmo Aho Oy bus service between Kokkola Vocational Campus - Kaustinen
  • Thu 6.5.2021 approx. 15.10-16.10 Osmo Aho Oy bus service between Kokkola Vocational Campus - Kaustinen
  • Thu 6.5.2021 from 16.00-18.30 Restaurant Roja
  • Fri 7.5.2021 approx. 6.50-7.30 Osmo Aho Oy bus service between Kaustinen - Kokkola Vocational Campus
  • Fri 7.5.2021 approx. 12.00-12.45 Osmo Aho Oy bus service between Kokkola Vocational Campus - Kaustinen
  • Fri 7.5.2021 at 10-11 Fire safety exercise in Kaustinen (organized by Alholmens Kraft Oy)
  • Fri 7.5.2021 from 11:00 to 11:30 Restaurant Sigrids
  • Fri 7.5. 8-16 Rengasmarket, Kokkola
  • Fri 7.5. Tervahovi Pharmacy, Kokkola
  • Fri 7.5. 13.30-14.00 Ykköskirppis, Kokkola
  • Fri 7.5. 15.30-16.00 Subway (Shopping center Chydenia, Kokkola)
  • Fri 7.5. 23.30-24.00 ABC Heinolankaari
  • la 8.5. 14.30-15.00 H&M and Gina Tricot (Chydenia Shopping Center, Kokkola)
  • la 8.5. 15.30-16.00 Prisma, Kokkola
  • la 8.5. 16: 00-16: 15 at McDonald's, Kokkola
  • la 8.5. 17.00-18.00 Kodin Terra, Kokkola
  • with 9.5. 15-17 Rosso, Kokkola
  • with 9.5. 19-21 Citymarket, Kokkola
  • on 10.5. at 8.30 bus trip Marinkainen - Kokkola
  • on 10.5. Nordic Travel, Köyhäjoki - KPKS bus service from Kälviä to Kokkola
  • on 10.5. at 6.30-7.30 Osmo Aho Oy bus service between Veteli and Kokkola
  • on 10.5. at 2.20 pm a bus from Juhani Vuorinen's school in the direction of Korpela
  • on 10.5. 14.45-15.15 H&M Ground Floor
  • on 10.5. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mom's Garden
  • on 10.5. 15.10-16.10 Osmo Aho Oy bus service between Kokkola and Veteli
  • ti 11.5. 17-18 Shopping center Chydenia, Kokkola
  • ti 11.5. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mom's Garden
  • ti 11.5. at 1.15 pm bus trip Kokkola - Kälviä

Coronavirus vaccinations :

  • I call the coronary vaccine meter
  • Weeks 1-2: Vaccinations of first-line sote personnel began
  • Week 2-3: Vaccinations of residents and staff of the enhanced service housing units for the elderly began
  • Week 5: Mass vaccinations of elderly people over the age of 80 living at home and of carers and the elderly living in the same household began
  • Week 7: Vaccinations of atrisk patients under 70 years of age began
  • Week 9: Vaccinations for 75-79 year olds began
  • Week 11: Vaccinations for 70-74 year olds began
  • Week 14: Vaccinations for atrisk patients 2 aged 18–64 years began
  • Week 14: Vaccinations for 65-69 year olds began
  • Week 15: Vaccinations for 60-64 year olds began
  • Week 16: Vaccinations for 55-59 year olds began
  • Appointment for vaccinations and more information about the coronary vaccine

Regulations and recommendations in the Calling area:

Link: a comprehensive list of recommendations in the Calling area

AVI's current order on meetings:

Recommendations of the COVID-19 Regional Authorities Group:

  • I call the area face mask recommendation
  • Remember the safety distance of 2 meters!
  • From 12.5.2021, the recommendations will be tightened
  • Private events for more than 10 people are not recommended indoorsRecommended for gatherings for private events outdoors max. 20 people. Even on smaller occasions, masks are used unless safety intervals are met. Particular attention must be paid to the size of the space in order to maintain safety clearances.
  • The organizers of the events are responsible for the precautions of the events and the number of participants.
  • It is recommended to avoid close contacts outside the family at your own discretion . In order to reduce social contacts, it is recommended to avoid large crowds and, for example, stay in shopping malls.
  • All indoor hobbies for adults and children should be discontinued.
  • Outdoor activities in groups of less than 50 people are possible in accordance with the recommendations given by OKM and THL .
  • It is recommended to move outdoor activities for children and young people. There are no gathering restrictions for groups of children and young people outdoors. Outdoor activities for children and young people can be arranged, taking into account corona safety guidelines.
  • AVI's gathering restrictions must be taken into account in matches, tournament activities and performances, as well as the number of spectators.
  • Travel recommendations it is recommended to avoid all unnecessary travel.
  • Telework recommendation it is recommended to use telework if possible.


DJ-Very, very good info ! Lots of countries could learn from this ! In NL a lot of the info would be seen as "privacy" so we are in the unknown where virusses are spreading...very frustrating !

If Indeed Kokkola-area-Finland has (over) 66 India variant cases that is very alarming !

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EdwinSm, Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2021 at 3:07am

Josh you found a lot of information   Overall the situation here is slowly improving...and some restrictions are being lifted. Eg meetings can have up to 10 people instead of just 6 (which makes a difference in a small village situation although the numbers are small for cities.

Quote

16.5 11:54 227 new cases on Sunday

The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said on Sunday that 227 new coronavirus infections had been diagnosed in Finland.

The region with the highest number of new infections was, as usual, the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS), with 110 new cases.

Nationwide, there have been some 2800 new cases during the past two weeks, about 400 fewer than during the previous fortnight. The daily number of new cases has remained below 300 since 18 April.

A total of 90,105 corona infections have been diagnosed in Finland so far.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2021 at 3:33am

EdwinSm-Do you have more info on the Kokkola situation ? Any idea's ? Is this a (very) major India-variant cluster-outbreak ? How would the Finland government/health authority deal with this unfolding crisis ? 

The picture I am getting is this is still in the breaking news stage...Thanks for your response...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EdwinSm, Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2021 at 10:34pm

The following was in this morning's news cycle....It does not give the information you are wanting beyond the vague "Some of the cases in a cluster traced to Kokkola have been confirmed as the variant first identified in India. "

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/central_ostrobothnia_covid_cluster_grows_incidence_rate_likely_nations_worst/11933421

What is of interest is tracing this outbreak to a May Day event.  "Most of the infections are related to an extensive cluster traced to a May Day brunch at the Mustakari yacht club restaurant in Kokkola."

Here in Finland, while there are marches with Red Flags and political speeches, May Day is largely a Spring Festival with lots of drinking and picnicing (in the town parks) and summer clothes (regardless of how cold it is, but it was warm this year for those in mini-skirts etc).

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 17 2021 at 12:13am

EdwinSm, thanks for the info-we have had bad weather for weeks now in NL...

Some of the Finland news ; [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11933654[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11933654

Hyrynsalmi's early childhood coronary cluster currently has 56 quarantined and six positive test results.

- As a precaution, one class in a single school will switch to distance learning for the first week, as several students in the class are quarantined. In other respects, school work continues almost normally. Schoolchildren have been informed through the Wilma application and instructions have also been given to the guardians of day care, says Mayor Heimo Keränen .

Read moreThe first corona infections were diagnosed in Hyrynsalmi

Keränen says in a press release from the Kainuu War that the situation is causing questions for local residents.

- We ask that rumors not be spread and cause unnecessary confusion. On Monday, we will provide more information about the situation and other possible service changes in the municipality, Keränen opens the situation.

DJ [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrynsalmi[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrynsalmi is mor inland in the south of Finland...sequencing will take time...(google translate may not be 100% in translation from Finnish...)

[url]https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19235-finns-have-lowered-their-guard-against-coronavirus-says-chief-physician-at-hus.html[/url] or https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19235-finns-have-lowered-their-guard-against-coronavirus-says-chief-physician-at-hus.html

THE UNVACCINATED SEGMENT of the Finnish population will have a key role in determining whether or not the coronavirus epidemic rears its head yet again in Finland, reports YLE.

The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) on Saturday reported 110 new laboratory-confirmed coronavirus infections, signalling an increase of over 100 per cent from the previous week.

A total of 227 infections were reported in Finland on Saturday.

Asko Järvinen, the chief physician of infectious diseases at HUS, reminded the public broadcasting company that daily fluctuations in the number of infections do not reveal the whole truth about the epidemiological situation; it is more important to examine the trend on a week-to-week basis.

“It’s now looking like the case numbers have levelled off, meaning they’re no longer on the decline. We also haven’t seen a sharp increase,” he said.

-

He also pointed out that the progress of vaccinations is not directly reflected in the number of infections because under 50-year-olds have accounted for most of the infections throughout the epidemic.

“A large share of the adult population will have received the first vaccine dose by the end of June. That’s when you can assume the disease will start waning.”

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has estimated that all over 16-year-olds willing to be vaccinated will have received the first dose by the end of July.

Also it pointed out that the positive development of the epidemiological situation appears to have come to a stop, with the weekly number of new infections rising by over 100 to 1,500 in the period between 3 and 9 May. The burden the epidemic has placed on hospital resources has, on the other hand, decreased by over 60 per cent since the end of March.

“The shift in the epidemiological situation indicates that the recommendations and restrictions should be torn down conservatively to manage the epidemiological situation,” it said.

DJ-The picture I am getting is that Finland may be in the "UK scenario" - There most likely is community spread of the India variant in Finland on a larger scale-but sequencing has to find out the variant(s)...Point is that ONE person with the India variant traveling can spread the virus in another region...

I did not see any news on the Finland-variant escaping testing for a few months...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 17 2021 at 3:35am

DJ-Some aspects;

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokkola[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokkola has a Swedish speaking minority of 13,9%., is on the Finnish coast of  the Gulf of Bothnia..[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrynsalmi[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrynsalmi does not have a Swedish speaking minority...Hyrynsalmi is very small-(popp.=2,187) so a larger cluster with 56 people in quarantine-6 positive test results (still open if it is any variant !) is noticeable. Kokkala did see several cases of the India variant. An introduction of the India variant in another small community would cause an "explosion of cases" like maybe in Hyrynsalmi...

The distance between Kokkola and Hyrynsalmi is around 320 kilometres...there will be very limited travel. 

Finland did very well during this pandemic-managing to keep numbers limited with most of the cases in the Helsinki area...the "weak spot" is very limited natural immunity, and with vaccinations still not offering much protection an India variant "could explode" in Finland-certainly outside Helsinki !

[url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11212596[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11212596 (google translate !) has some of the basic info...[url]https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/finland/[/url] or https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/finland/ Finland has a downward trend-but spread of an Indian variant in small rural communities would not show up in statistics for some time...

Why is Finland interesting ? If there is a spread of the India variant in Finland it is very likely something like that could be happening also in other area's/countries. 

[url]https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19095-mayor-of-helsinki-criticises-finland-s-plan-to-scrap-coronavirus-restrictions.html[/url] or https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19095-mayor-of-helsinki-criticises-finland-s-plan-to-scrap-coronavirus-restrictions.html ;

If this is how we move forward, chaos will ensue at the ports of Helsinki in May.”

The government announced earlier this week it is looking to de-regulate travel within communities stretching across the border with Norway and Sweden in May. The border formalities could be scrapped for passengers bound for and arriving from Estonia and Russia in June. Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo (Greens) on Wednesday outlined that the travel restrictions will be removed gradually and replaced with a variety of health measures at borders.

-

“Everyone should understand that the number of passengers wouldn’t have to increase much from the current levels before the port terminals are gridlocked,” said Vapaavuori. “For some reason, the government doesn’t want to do anything about this. The current way of doing things simply won’t work once the passenger numbers rise.”

The Regional State Administrative Agency (AVI) for Southern Finland has ruled that people arriving in the country can be ordered into a health examination and coronavirus test until the end of April.

The European Commission is currently preparing for the introduction of digital green certificates enabling travellers to prove they have recovered from the coronavirus disease, vaccinated against the disease or recently tested negative for the virus. A decision on the scheme to facilitate safe movement within the 27-country bloc is to be taken on 26 June.

DJ-Travel=spread of virus/variants...We will have to wait and see how the Finland India-variant cluster will further develop. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 18 2021 at 12:45am

DJ-

Some sources; [url]https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/situation-update-on-coronavirus[/url] or https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/situation-update-on-coronavirus ;

Total of 6,424 cases caused by the coronavirus variants have been identified in Finland:

  • B.1.1.7 UK variants: 5,265
  • B.1.1.7 South African variants: 1 132
  • B.1.617 Indian variants (and its sub-lineages): 25
  • P.1 Brazilian variant: 2

The numbers of variant strains are based on the data reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register. The numbers are updated once a week on Wednesdays. The information was updated on Wednesday, May 12th.

In addition to the abovementioned VOC viral variants, other viral strains also exist in Finland and other parts of the world, in which the significance of the mutations they contain for the communicability of the virus or the protection offered by vaccines is not yet known. These are called sc variants of interest (VOI). THL is following but is not reporting VOI discoveries regularly.

So 25 India-variants per may 12. Tomorrow-may 19-will see another update.  Another source [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineage_B.1.617#Statistics[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineage_B.1.617#Statistics only has 12 cases (may 16 version)...link to [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11923776[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11923776 ;

About a dozen cases have been found in Finland about the Indian virus variant, which has caused concern.

Uusimaa's coronavirus strain has changed completely since the end of last year, said Olli Vapalahti, Professor of Zoonotic Virology at the University of Helsinki, in the morning of Yle on Monday . The virus strains that appeared in the last half of the year have almost disappeared.

- The epidemic has almost changed over the course of the spring.

Of the samples examined in more detail, ie sequenced, there are about 80 per cent of the British variant and 20 per cent of the South African variant in Helsinki. According to Vapalahti, the rest of Finland follows the development of Uusimaa slightly.

Indian virus variants have been found mainly in border testing. Professor Vapalahti said that according to preliminary studies, vaccines have also been found to protect reasonably well against Indian virus variants. However, the matter is currently being investigated.

DJ [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11935664[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11935664

Cases of corona have been observed, at least in connection with Kokkola infection groups. As some of the infections in Central Ostrobothnia have been an Indian variant of the coronavirus, extensive precautions have been taken in Kalajoki.

More than 50 people have been placed in actual exposure quarantine due to the risk of infection in their free time and in the family.

In addition, Kalajoki schools have had the opportunity to be exposed to the virus last week, and about 130 people have been placed in voluntary quarantine. The voluntary quarantine recommendation is valid in the upper classes of Merenoja United School and Raumankari United School, as well as in Kalajoki High School and Rautio School.

The rapid spread of the coronavirus has been accelerated by the transmission of the virus to unvaccinated adolescents.

In addition, the possibility of exposure in Spa SaniFani and Kalajoki Spa Hotel Sani on Wednesday 12 May has been reported.

And [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11934140[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11934140 ;

There are no signs of improvement in the corona situation in Central Ostrobothnia yet.

Yesterday, 21 new infections were confirmed and today, Monday, 23 new infections were reported.

What makes the situation particularly worrying is the involvement of the so-called Indian virus variant, which is spreading effectively, especially among young people who are still unvaccinated. Calling Chief Medical Officer Pirjo Dabnell fears that the virus variant will also spread from young people to the elderly and other at-risk groups.

- The virus is now spreading like wildfire. I would recommend that young people stay in their own conditions.

A total of 124 positive corona infections have been diagnosed in the Central Ostrobothnia region in the last two weeks. At the same time, the incidence rate is currently 160 per hundred thousand inhabitants.

On Friday, the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) assesses the need for regionally targeted coronary vaccines in different regions. Leading expert Mia Kontio from THL's Infectious Disease Prevention and Vaccination Department states that Central Ostrobothnia currently meets these criteria.

See also; [url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11933340[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11933340 ;

Central Ostrobothnia's coronary cluster grows: more than 100 infections from the Kokkola chain, almost a thousand in quarantine - the hospital district enters the spread phase

The corona situation in the province continues to deteriorate dramatically: new infections were detected on Sunday 21. Some of the large-scale infections that spread from Kokkola have been confirmed as a variant of India, and the incidence rate in the region is now at the top of the country. Coronavirus infections are currently particularly prevalent in young people aged 12-25.

Sequencing is taking up to two weeks...180 people in quarantine...They are taking this variant serious. 

Again-Finland may be just an example of how the India variant is increasing in many countries...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 19 2021 at 5:43am

DJ-From [url]https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/situation-update-on-coronavirus[/url] or https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/situation-update-on-coronavirus

Coronavirus variants

It is typical for viruses to mutate. Mutated viruses can have different characteristics from an earlier virus strain. For example, virus strains that have been noticeably modified can be classified as so-called variants of concern (variant of concern, VOC).

THL is actively following how the coronavirus mutates and is evaluating how the variants affect the coronavirus epidemic. Many different variants of coronavirus are currently circulating around the world. The spread of the new viral variants can be prevented in the same way that the contagion of the previous variant of the coronavirus.

Total of 6,875 cases caused by the coronavirus variants have been identified in Finland:

  • B.1.1.7 UK variants:  5,639
  • B.1.1.7 South African variants: 1,194
  • B.1.617 Indian variants (and its sub-lineages): 40
  • P.1 Brazilian variant: 2

The numbers of variant strains are based on the data reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register. The numbers are updated once a week on Wednesdays. The information was updated on Wednesday, May 19th.

DJ [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineage_B.1.617#Statistics[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineage_B.1.617#Statistics (may 17) still had 12 India-variant cases for Finland...In the info from may 12 Finland had 25 India variant cases-so +15 cases in one week-but sequencing very slow-so underreporting is very likely...

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2021 at 3:50am

[url]https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/virologist_indian_variant_not_major_concern_in_finland_though_care_should_be_taken/11950617[/url] or https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/virologist_indian_variant_not_major_concern_in_finland_though_care_should_be_taken/11950617 ;

A leading virologist has told Yle that people in Finland should not be overly concerned about the spread of the Indian variant of the coronavirus.

The variant was behind a serious cluster of infections in healthcare facilities in Kanta-Häme and has also contributed to the worsening epidemic situation in Central Ostrobothnia.

Despite this, experts say that the spread of the variant can be stopped with measures already in place.

The Indian variant of the virus is believed to be more contagious than the original strain or other variants in circulation.

"If the virus is more contagious then it can be contracted with briefer contact and possibly from a greater distance than previous virus strains," explained Ilkka Julkkunen, a virologist at Turku University.

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Upgraded mask recommendation

Some infections in Kanta-Häme are known to have occurred in medical staff who were wearing surgical masks. Julkkunen said nursing staff should use more robust FFP2 or FFP3 respirators.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has updated its advice for long-term and institutional carers to include a recommendation to use the higher-grade respirators.

"The advice is not being changed on account of the Indian variant. Today's change is not in itself related to the variant but to a decision made for this spring as a whole. We consider in principle that the existing anti-infection measures are sufficient for the Indian variant at this stage," said THL research director Otto Helve.

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Vaccines effective

While many of the patients infected in the Kanta-Häme clusters had received one or two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, the experts Yle spoke to believe the currently available vaccines perform well against the Indian variant.

"It is good to remember that no vaccine is 100 percent effective. Even those who have received a full set of vaccinations have the potential to be infected. But the risk of serious infection is clearly lower in those who have received two vaccinations. According to current data, this also applies to the Indian variant," Helve said.

Julkkunen's research team has been studying the effectiveness of vaccines on both the British and South African variants of the virus. Their findings show that vaccines are just as effective against the British variant as they are against the original coronavirus strain.

However, the vaccines currently in use are estimated to be one-fifth as effective against the South African and Brazilian variants of the virus. The Indian variant shares one mutation with these variants, so it is estimated the vaccines will may not be as effective against it.

"The vaccines are slightly less effective than against the original, but better than against the South African variant," Julkkunen said.

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Julkkunen stressed that even if the variant were slightly more resistant to the protections given by vaccination, it is still sufficient.


"Personally I would not be hugely concerned about this variant. Vaccine coverage is already so good and the vaccine programme is progressing well, leaving less and less opportunity for the virus to infect," he said.

According to THL, over 60 cases of coronavirus linked to the Indian variant have been identified in Finland. It is likely there have been more cases than that, as only a small proportion of positive cases undergo the genetic sequencing needed to determine the strain of the virus responsible.

"It's a relief that we have examples of currently in place infection control measures being able to suppress situations where the Indian variant has clearly been involved," said Otto Helve.

According to Julkkunen, the variant could become more prevalent in Finland if it is not eradicated. The majority of Finnish coronavirus cases so far have been of the British variant of the virus.

"If the fight against the epidemic does not succeed, the Indian variant may take over and there could be spikes in the epidemic. Caution should be taken," Julkkunen said.

DJ-Yes more and stricter NPI/social distance, masks etc. could limit the number of cases-but is that being done ? Is the communications by media "the pandemic is over" or are they stressing it may be far from over ? Also there are many reports that natural/vaccine immunity is not as good as expected. 

I (DJ) think in the UK another problem is spread in the Asian-community-sometimes without legal status-avoiding testing/treatment out of fear to be put on transport to India, Pakistan etc...This may be less a factor in Finland. 

Orthodox religious groups-not accepting vaccinations-can become another "spreader" of the India-variant. Some of those people do a good (voluntary) job in working with "the poor" often including migrants/refugees. In that way a virus could jump from one unvaccinated/tested group to another unvaccinated/tested group. If with the India variant also around 60% of the spread could be a/pre-symptomatic we may have a problem. 

DJ-On the numbers-60 cases reported/sequenced in Finland. If Finland would sequence  (for example) 10% of its cases translating 60 cases as being 10% of all the India variant cases in Finland may not be correct-but could give an indication. In general lots of countries do a bad job in sequencing...Finland is NOT in the [url]https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/[/url] or https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/ list !

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EdwinSm, Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2021 at 10:11pm

In general (with daily ups and downs) the case numbers here in Finland are falling. The country is divided into 'Health Districts' and each district is responsible for the level of lock down based on the recent case rate.  So falling numbers has allowed Helsinki to relax some restrictions.  


Currently 42.3% have received their first vaccination, and based on the current 7-day trend the 'herd immunity' goal of 70% coverage will be reached om 28th July, by which time both my wife and I should have had our second vaccination.   Of the Nordic countries Iceland is further ahead of vaccinating its population


More graphs than you probably want can be found at this dash board:https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/check_how_the_covid_epidemic_and_vaccination_campaign_are_progressing_in_your_area__our_graphic_has_covid_stats_from_finland_and_the_world/11863045

Of the ones shown the one that surprised me the most was infection by age, where the 20-29 age group has had more infections per person than any other group.  Should vaccination be offered early to this super-spreader age range?

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