“This morning brought the news we have all been waiting for – that Estonia has reached the yellow risk level,” explained Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. “That means we can drop the requirement to wear masks: starting from tomorrow, they will no longer be mandatory in public places. It is still recommended to wear one in crowded indoor spaces and on public transport though, in particular for those who are members of a risk group. After all, coronavirus is still with us and still contagious. More than 1000 people a day are still testing positive on average, and almost 30 people are being admitted to hospital with severe cases of the illness every 24 hours. So I urge everyone to remain cautious and to think about others, including getting vaccinated if you still have yet to do so. Masks will no longer be required from tomorrow, but what course things take after that depends on all of us.”
Alongside the mask requirement being dropped, other restrictions are also being lifted: disinfection and distancing will no longer be mandatory, although still recommended in busy places where there are a lot of people you would not normally come into contact with.
The risk level of the spread of coronavirus has now dropped from high to average in Estonia, which equates to yellow in the risk matrix. As at this morning, the average seven-day rates of infection and new cases of hospitalisation were 1027 and 29.86, respectively.
There were 274 people in hospital with coronavirus as of 2 April. Three people infected with the virus died in the last 24 hours.
The seven-day infection rate has been at the yellow level since 22 March, presaging a constant reduction in the rate of hospitalisations. Since the number of people being hospitalised over the last seven days has also been steadily decreasing, along with the number of people already in hospital, the burden on hospitals should not increase if the drop in the seven-day rate of infections comes to an end. As things stand, hospitals’ ability to cope with case numbers is improving every day, since fewer than half as many people currently require treatment as at the peak of the pandemic, when more than 700 people were hospitalised with COVID-19.
Among the COVID control measures that will remain in force are the obligation to self-isolate when entering Estonia in certain cases. Those diagnosed with COVID will still be subject to quarantine, and close contacts who are unvaccinated will have to isolate for seven days.
The Government Communication Office will publish the order and explanatory note online at kriis.ee.
