The corona situation in Päijät-Häme has remained fairly stable towards the end of the summer. There are many infections, but the need for hospitalization has not increased in recent weeks.
Päijät-Häme Central Hospital currently has more than 20 patients with corona. The number has remained the same for several weeks.
Autumn can worsen the corona situation
According to Nieminen, the number of corona infections and, with it, the need for hospitalization may start to increase as the weather cools down.
– In the summer, people go out more and stay further away from each other. In the fall, we pack indoors again.
Cool air itself can also help the virus spread.
– Presumably, the issues of temperature and air humidity also affect the transmission characteristics of this virus, says Nieminen.
There is no definite information on the duration of protection provided by vaccines
According to current information, vaccines provide good protection against a severe form of the disease for several months.
– If you have been vaccinated and on the other hand have contracted the disease, you have good protection against a serious form of the disease for at least nine months, says Nieminen.
There is no longer-term information, because the virus variant that is currently in power was only created about nine months ago, explains Nieminen.
Nieminen encourages following THL’s recommendations regarding vaccines. THL recommends taking the fourth corona vaccine for severely immunocompromised people over 12 years old, adults in risk groups and everyone over 60 years old.
Are there any new restrictions coming?
Chief Medical Officer Nieminen hopes that in Päijät-Hämee, as elsewhere in Finland, normal life could resume in the fall. He does not consider it likely that the disease situation would change so significantly that new corona restrictions would have to be imposed.
– If the need for hospitalization starts to increase, there may be a situation where recommendations have to be made, he estimates.
At the moment, however, it seems that the authorities are relying on people’s own judgment.
Resistance increases
Nieminen reminds that as the population gains resistance to the coronavirus through vaccines or contracted disease, the strength of the virus weakens.
– Every encounter with a virus creates resistance in us. It’s the same situation as with other viruses, he says.