The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reports that the excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland was low, comparable to other Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, and Luxembourg. This report indicates that Finland's strong COVID-19 restrictions were effectively adhered to, which likely contributed to the lower rates of excess mortality. Research Professor Tuija Leino remarked that the strong contact restrictions prevented a significant number of deaths among the elderly during the initial waves of the pandemic due to limited circulation of other viruses as well.

Moreover, the study found that while Sweden experienced higher mortality rates during the first wave, subsequent waves saw lower excess mortality compared to Finland and Norway. This highlighted the varying impacts of pandemic responses across different countries. It was noted that as restrictions eased, more viruses began circulating within the population, leading to an increase in mortality as expected, as the initial strong restrictions were relaxed.

In conclusion, the findings from THL not only provide insight into the mortality effects of COVID-19 in Finland but also reflect on the effectiveness of public health measures in controlling disease spread. The data emphasizes the importance of maintaining robust health policies during health crises to protect vulnerable populations, especially the elderly.