Laboratory-based surveillance of COVID-19 in the Greater Helsinki area, Finland, February-June 2020

Laboratory registry data (80,791 specimens, 70,517 individuals) was used to characterise age- and sex-specific SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR sampling frequency and positivity rate, and laboratory capacity building in Greater Helsinki, Finland during February-June 2020. While the number of positive cases was similar in males and females, the positivity rate was significantly higher in males. The highest incidence/100,000 was observed in those aged ≥80 years. The proportion of young adults in positive cases increased in late May 2020.