Children who come into close contact with an infected person in institutions of general education or in the course of extracurricular activities but who display no symptoms of illness will no longer have to self-isolate.
Starting from Monday 7 February, unvaccinated students who qualify as close contacts will no longer have to self-isolate if they are showing no signs of infection. The lifting of this restriction applies to all pupils and students in kindergartens and schools up to the age of 18 (inclusive, and incorporating those turning 19 during the 2021/2022 academic year) who come into close contact with an infected person in the provision of a child care service, in an institution of pre-school child care, in a general education school, in a vocational school, in undertaking extracurricular activities or at a youth work venue.
Rapid testing will continue in general education schools and vocational schools twice a week in order to monitor the spread of coronavirus. Anyone who returns a positive test or shows symptoms of infection must stay home. Teachers who qualify as close contacts are recommended to take a test every day. Test kits are being provided to all general education schools by the Ministry of Education and Research.
Keeping schools open and extracurricular activities running is particularly important for the mental and social well-being and children and young adults. Despite the easing of restrictions in education and extracurricular activities, it is still recommended that people take the ordinary precautions: keeping their distance, wearing masks, following hygiene rules and ensuring air quality indoors. The majority of teachers in Estonia are fully vaccinated and almost 50% have received a booster shot. It is important to continue offering employees of educational institutions opportunities to get vaccinated, be it for the first time or to get the booster.
Children and young people will no longer be required to present a COVID certificate in Estonia.
Starting from 14 February, students in general education schools and vocational schools up to the age of 18 (inclusive, and incorporating those turning 19 during the 2021/2022 academic year) will no longer have to present a COVID certificate in Estonia.
Due to the ongoing testing in schools, the exception for 19-year-olds is justified on the basis of whether or not they are school students. Since organised testing which is guaranteed by the state is taking place in education institutions, the infection risk posed by students is better controlled. The person responsible for an activity has the right to request that a 19-year-old provide proof of their student status.
Health care workers may return to work before their quarantine period has ended if so decided by their employer.
Health care workers infected with coronavirus will have the possibility to fulfil urgent duties prior to their quarantine period coming to an end if their symptoms have abated and all necessary precautions are taken.
However, in all other respects the quarantine requirements will remain in force. This change comes in response to the marked rise in the number of infections, due to which the work of hospitals, ambulances, family doctors and other health care providers may be affected not only by larger numbers of patients, but also by a lack of staff.
Travel restrictions are set to change.
The basis of the new travel rules coming into effect on 7 February is the latest recommendations of the Council of the European Union and the updated risk assessment of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), wherein the basis of classifications is the weighted rate of infections, which takes three factors into account: the number of cases; vaccination uptake; and the number of tests. For more details, see https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/situation-updates/weekly-maps-coordinated-restriction-free-movement. The new rules apply to travellers arriving from the European Union, the Schengen states, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
Further requirements when travelling will only apply hereafter to people arriving from countries in the European Union with very high rates of infection (i.e. those marked in dark red, with a weighted infection rate of more than 300).
The new order places no obligations on children up to the age of 12, who can continue to cross borders without any restrictions. Moreover, travellers with a certificate indicating that they are fully vaccinated or have contracted and recovered from coronavirus need not self-isolate upon crossing the Estonian border, regardless of the country they have come from.
The same rules that apply to everyone over the age of 18 will henceforth also apply to those aged 12-18. Anyone over the age of 12 who does not have a certificate indicating that they are fully vaccinated or have contracted and recovered from coronavirus will have to self-isolate for a period of seven days if they have arrived from a country classified by the ECDC as dark red (i.e. with a very high infection rate).
If a person without such a certificate arrives in Estonia from a country where the weighted rate of infection, taking vaccine uptake into account, is less than 300 (i.e. with an infection rate between low and high), they may free themselves from the obligation to self-isolate if they take a PCR test administered by a health care service provider within 72 hours of arriving in the country or a rapid antigen test 24 hours prior to arriving in the country. If they do not take a test, they must remain in isolation for the full seven days.
- As an exception, students up to the age of 18 and those turning 19 during the academic year who do not have a COVID certificate may attend school and take part in extracurricular and youth work activities during their isolation period.
The list of professions to which exemptions apply when crossing borders is also being updated. People arriving in Estonia for the purposes of tourism for up to 24 hours will be removed from the list of exemptions, since the widespread availability of vaccinations means that the exception is no longer needed, while patients travelling for unavoidable medical reasons will be added to the list.
The current rules will continue to apply to those arriving from outside of the European Union. Tables pertaining to all countries are constantly updated online at https://kriis.ee/reisimine-riigipiiri-uletamine/reisimine-eestisse/kellele-piirangud-kohalduvad.
