Of the new cases, 240 were diagnosed in Harju County, 60 in Ida-Viru County, 17 in Tartu County, 12 in Pärnu County, 11 in Lääne-Viru County, six in Rapla County, five in Hiiu County, four in Valga County and three each in Viljandi and Jõgeva. There were two new cases in Järva County and one each in Võru, Põlva and Lääne County. Eight cases had no information in the population register.

3,207 primary tests were analyzed. In total, when primary and repeat tests were included, 5,277 tests were carried out across Estonia. The positive share of tests was 7.1 percent, the Health Board said.

As of Thursday morning, 68 people are being treated in hospital - five more than yesterday - and six people are using ventilators. There were no deaths in the last day. 

The 14-day average infection rate is 166.4 per 100,000 and the share of positive tests is 4.5 percent.

The total number of cases of coronavirus diagnosed in Estonia since February is now 6,881.

View more data in English, Russian or Estonian on the Health Board's website or koroonakaart.

Situation by region

Northern region

A total of 189 of the 240 new cases from Harju County were from Tallinn. Forty of those new cases were close contacts of individuals who had already fallen ill. One case was brought from Russia. In 13 cases the source of infection is unknown. The circumstances surrounding the remaining cases are still being investigated.

The Health Board's northern regional department is monitoring over 11,000 people, of whom 1,212 have fallen ill.

There are twenty-four different outbreaks in total within the northern regional department's area of operations.

• Four school outbreaks which include 30 (+7) individuals in total,
• One kindergarten outbreak with five cases,
• Seven workplace outbreaks which involve 116 cases,
• Three event outbreaks which include 28 people,
• Six outbreaks which are connected to contacts with 67 (+18) cases,
• Rapla Care Center outbreak with 65 cases,
• A hospital outbreak with 20 (+2) cases,
• Tallinn Prison outbreak with 20 (+5) cases.

Eastern region

The Health Board's eastern regional department is monitoring over 3,100 people, of whom 515 have fallen ill.

One of the new Lääne-Viru County cases was handed over to the northern regional department, five people were infected in the workplace, three at an Estonian Defence Forces base, one individual within their family circle, and one via an acquaintance.

Eighteen of the new cases from Ida-Viru County which were added within the past 24 hours were connected to the Viru Prison outbreak, and eleven further cases caught the virus at an Estonian Defence Forces base.

Seven individuals were infected via their acquaintances, and three in the workplace. Three cases were infected within their family circle, four via their acquaintances, and three at school. One further individual was infected at a kindergarten. The circumstances surrounding the remaining cases are still being investigated.

Two new outbreaks were added and there are twelve active outbreaks in total within the eastern regional:

• Estonian Defence Forces in Jõhvi (25)
• Defence Forces base in Tapa (12)
• First school outbreak in Sillamäe (38)
• Second Sillamäe school outbreak (9)
• Jõhvi care home outbreak (21)
• A Narva kindergarten outbreak (8) (+1)
• Narva-Jõesuu workplace outbreak (10)
• Viru Prison outbreak (230) (+27)
• A Kohtla-Järve school outbreak (7)
• A Sillamäe workplace outbreak (8)
• Narva sports-related outbreak (48) (+5)
• Narva workplace outbreak (7)

Southern region

The southern regional department is monitoring over 1,200 people, of whom 200 have fallen ill.

One of the new cases from Tartu County was infected via a work-related contact, two further cases caught the virus at a hobby group gathering, and one individual was infected via a family contact who lives in Harju County.

The circumstances surrounding the remaining cases from Tartu County are still being investigated.

One of the new cases from Valga County was infected via a family-related contact, while the circumstances surrounding the remaining cases are still being investigated.

The circumstances surrounding the new cases from Jõgeva County, Viljandi County, Võru County, and Põlva County are also still being investigated.

As part of those efforts, the southern regional department is also monitoring one outbreak which occurred at a care home and involves 34 people.

Western region

The new cases from Hiiu County were infected via work-related contacts.

Two of the new cases from Pärnu County caught the infection at an educational institution, three further cases were infected at an Estonian Defence Forces base, and one of the new cases actually lives in Tallinn. On one further occasion, the origins of the infection have remained unknown.

The circumstances surrounding the remaining new cases from Hiiu County and Pärnu County are still being investigated.

The western regional department is monitoring almost 700 people, of whom 115 have fallen ill.

The western regional department is monitoring four active outbreaks:

• Hiiu family event outbreak (12) (-1)
• Hiiu event outbreak (8)
• Hiiu family outbreak (6)
• Pärnu County school outbreak (7)

The situation is critical

The spread of coronavirus has caused a medical state of emergency in Estonia, the Health Board said on Wednesday.

The agency said the number of people who require hospital treatment is increasing rapidly and the government has issued new measures which are designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Anyone with symptoms is being encouraged to get tested as soon as possible. Even if you only develop mild symptoms, contact your family doctor or call the 1220 helpline. Information about testing can be read here.

If you are a close contact of an individual who has been infected, stay at home.

A campaign called 'Let's keep Estonia open!' was launched this week, which calls on people to follow five basic principles:

• Stay at home if you have fallen ill
• Stay at least two metres away from other people
• Wear a mask in crowded places
• Wash your hands diligently
• Download the HOIA app onto your smartphone

Download 'HOIA'

You can download Estonia's coronavirus exposure notification app 'HOIA' which will alert you if you have been in close contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus.

The free app can be downloaded at the Google Play Store or App Store. Read ERR News' feature about the app here. 

Editor's note: This article was updated to add regional information

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