Paper: Coronavirus duty at Western Estonian ports cost more than €300,000

The two month period during the emergency situation when the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) checked boarding travellers in Lääne County harbor cost them a total of €333,000.
More than €200,000 of the costs were additional costs - paid overtime, fuel compensation, personal protective equipment, tri-weekly Lääne elu reported (link in Estonian) on Tuesday.
€90,000 of the total costs will go to the Lääne, Pärnu and Saare districts of the Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit).
Peeter Saar, captain-director of Rohuküla Harbour, told ERR News the PPA performed complete checks of anyone entering the harbour, including the employees.
Saar said local municipality governments had given the harbour lists of people not allowed to board ships: "Speaking from our perspective at Rohuküla, we travel between Hiiumaa and Vormsi, so everyone boarding ships to and from had to be checked."
Saar concluded no medicinal checks were made, temperatures were also not taken. In cases were infection was suspected, an ambulance was called.
Checks in Lääne County harbours and ports were started on March 14, the day the emergency situation in Estonia was announced.
Western Prefect Kaido Kõplas said on June 16: "Restrictions are in place to prevent the transmission of the virus and the less movement there is, the lower the risk. We ask for an understanding attitude both from the people and from the employers."
Restrictions on the western islands of Estonia were lifted on May 18.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste