A total of 202 influenza and 1,726 COVID-19 cases reported this week 

In week fifteen, a total of 3,184 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections, of whom 38.4% were children. The overall incidence of acute respiratory viral diseases increased by 39%.

The number of influenza cases increased by 34% compared to the previous week. Children aged 15 and under accounted for 44.6% of all reported cases of influenza. Based on information logged during the targeted survey, infections are currently spreading at a moderate rate, with the spread of the influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses remaining extensive. 

According to the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre (TEHIK), a total of 26 patients were hospitalised due to influenza in recent weeks. In total, 1,247 people have been hospitalised due to influenza since the beginning of the season. People over the age of 50 accounted for 68.4% of these cases, with children aged 4 and under accounting for 16.2%. The hospitalisation rate among children aged 5 to 9 has increased in recent weeks. The number of hospitalisations due to influenza has remained stable compared to the previous week, with the overall trend slowly decreasing. The virus spreads in waves, without significant increases or decreases. According to conclusively validated data from the Causes of Death Registry of the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre, a total of 61 people aged 9 to 97 have died due to influenza this season.

A total of 1,726 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the week. The number of new cases has increased across nearly all age groups. The number of registered outbreaks in welfare institutions decreased compared to last week, but the number of cases related to those outbreaks increased. A total of 63 new cases were registered in welfare institutions, which accounted for 3.65% of all cases this week.

As of Wednesday morning, there were 139 individuals hospitalised due to COVID-19, 63 of whom required hospitalisation due to symptomatic COVID-19. Over the past week, seven COVID-19 patients aged between 65 and 88 died, all of whom had serious underlying illnesses.

Due to the many relatively mild and asymptomatic forms of COVID-19, the virus is likely to spread silently without significant fluctuations in cases.

The Health Board would like to remind everyone that in the case of a positive COVID-19 test, it is important to contact your family physician or the family physician helpline at 1220. If you are experiencing signs of illness, please avoid going to the emergency department or visiting your family physician without first seeking advice and instructions over the phone. Isolation ends when at least five days have passed since the onset of symptoms characteristic of COVID-19, there has been no fever for the last 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved.