Coronavirus Omikron spreads strongly all over Helsinki: Regional differences tell more about the need for PCR tests than about the number of infections

Coronavirus infections During the first weeks of the year, they have spread more and more evenly throughout Helsinki.

A total of more than 20,000 laboratory-confirmed coronary infections were diagnosed in the city from December 29-11. between January. The City of Helsinki usually publishes information on infections by postcode area every two weeks.

At the beginning of January, the number of infections confirmed in the PCR test was the highest in Kaitalahti, Jätkäsaari, Kontula and Vesala, Puotinharju and Myllypuro in Laajasalo.

Certified thus, infections appear to continue to be concentrated to some extent in eastern Helsinki. However, regional figures no longer provide a reliable indication of the actual spread of the virus, says the head of the Helsinki health centers Timo Lukkarinen.

In the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (Hus), it is recommended that a positive home test not be confirmed in an official test if the symptoms are mild. According to Lukkarinen, the number of actual corona infections may be as much as ten times higher than the verified figures.

The data broken down by zip code area also lacks some verified infections that did not have a known zip code. According to Lukkarinen, this information will not have time to update in epidemiological activities at the current infection rates.

There is therefore no information on the actual infection rates in the different postal code areas.

“Omikron is known to no longer respect vaccination statuses in the same way.”

Regions differences in vaccination coverage may therefore no longer be reflected in regional figures. Instead, they may show how many people need a formal test because of their daily lives.

In areas with an average higher-income population, fewer tests are likely to be needed, for example because of the communicable disease allowance. In many fields of expertise, it is easy to stay in telecommuting, so no formal test result is needed for the employer.

In lower-income areas, on the other hand, the need for an official certificate is higher in the service sector.

Areas may also be highlighted on the map for specific reasons. Such a reason can be found at least in Jätkäsaari.

“There are apartments for Hus employees in Jätkäsaari. So there are a lot of healthcare professionals living there who go for tests often. ”

Laboratory certified therefore, the number of tests is currently not a very reliable measure of the number of corona infections, Lukkarinen says.

“We are in a situation where Korona is already a virus. The extent of the epidemic would be further demonstrated by testing people to report if they have flu symptoms. ”