Officials were upbeat when the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) held their weekly coronavirus briefing on Thursday morning.
Taking part were Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Director of Strategic Affairs at the ministry, Pasi Pohjola, the ministry's Deputy Director General, and THL Medical Specialist Otto Helve.
According to Helve, the incidence rate has dropped from 53 to 40 per 100,000 people in the previous two weeks. Caseloads have decreased in all age groups, especially among young people.
Infection rates have also declined in all hospital districts except Kanta-Häme, which includes the city of Hämeenlinna.
In the former hotspot of Central Ostrobothnia, which includes Kokkola, the incidence rate has dropped to 117.
The Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) district, which for a long time had the highest infection levels, now has an incidence rate of 67.
According to Voipio-Pulkki, the situation is now comparable to that of late September 2020 – well before the second wave in early December and the third in late February and March.
Nearly 10% fully vaccinated: "Impressive numbers"
At least a first dose of vaccine has now been given to 54 percent of the population aged 16 and older.
Overall, 45.7 percent of the population has received at least one jab, while 9.9 percent are fully vaccinated.
"These numbers are quite impressive. We have an excellent vaccination campaign going on in Finland," said Voipio-Pulkki.
The THL reported 143 new cases since Wednesday. The death toll stood at 959.