"If It Was That Urgent" Finland Sends COVID-19 Samples to Korea

On the 30th of last month, Helsinki Central Station was empty due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the demand for Korean diagnostic kits surges due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Finland has decided to send patient specimens to Korea. This is because local testing capacity is insufficient, so they plan to have diagnostic tests conducted directly in Korea.

According to Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat and others on the 30th (local time), 12 major companies including Finland's largest distribution group Kesko, food company Fazer, and environmental technology firm Ensto will send about 18,000 specimens to Korea through the local private hospital Mehil?inen. Since Finland's testing capacity is not sufficient, it was judged that requesting specimen analysis directly in Korea would be faster.

The first specimens will be sent to Korea on the afternoon of the same day (local time) via a Finnair charter flight departing from Helsinki Vantaa International Airport. Testing will be conducted on 1,500 specimens per batch over two weeks, totaling 18,000 tests. This accounts for about 86% of the total tests conducted so far in Finland (around 21,000). The testing cost is 249 euros (approximately 334,800 KRW), which is about 50 euros (approximately 67,200 KRW) more expensive than local testing costs.

Since the first confirmed case at the end of January, Finland has reported 1,418 confirmed cases. Among them, 17 have died and 10 have been declared recovered. Accordingly, the Finnish government has imposed movement restrictions on major southern regions including Helsinki since the 27th of last month.