515 cases were diagnosed in Harju County and 404 of those new cases were in Tallinn.

140 new cases were recorded in Ida-Viru County, 100 in Tartu County, 46 in Pärnu County, 39 in Lääne-Viru County, 29 in Võru County, 21 in Valga County, 17 in Järva County, 15 in Hiiu County and 14 in Rapla County,

Six cases each were found in Jõgeva, Põlva and Saare counties, two in Viljandi County and one in Lääne County. Eleven cases had no place of residence in the population register.

In total, 6,648 tests were analyzed giving a positive share of 14.6 percent. The 14-day infection rate is 600.69 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Five new coronavirus deaths were registered within the past 24 hours, involving a 65 year-old man, a 68 year-old woman, an 81 year-old woman, an 88 year-old man, and a 90 year-old woman. Coronavirus has claimed the lives of 226 people in Estonia in total.

884 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Health Board: Three days worth of tests

The previous highest number of tests recorded on a single day was 760 on December 11, which resulted from a backlog of cases.

The Health Board told ERR News that Wednesday's figures also resulted from a backlog in the lab due to a rise in the number of people being tested after the Christmas break.

Spokesperson Eike Kingsepp said: "Tests from three days were analyzed  - 661 of those were positive results from yesterday's tests."

A total of 411 patients are being treated in hospital

As of the morning of December 30, a total of 411 people who have COVID-19 are being treated in hospital. Forty-four of those patients require intensive care, with twenty-four patients on a ventilator.

Fifty new cases were opened in the last day. Thirty-one patients were discharged from hospital (including four cases which were registered retrospectively), 11 patients were transferred to a non-COVID-19 unit, and two further patients were transferred to another hospital.

A total of 17,664 people have recovered from COVID-19. The cases of 13,322 people have been closed (75.4 percent of the total) and, in the case of 4,342 people (24.6 percent), more than 28 days have passed since they tested positive and the individuals concerned are not being treated in hospital, meaning that they are awaiting confirmation of their recovery.

Situation by region

The Health Board is monitoring over 25,700 individuals

The northern regional department is monitoring over 16,600 people, of whom 4,248 have fallen ill.

The eastern regional department is monitoring over 5,200 people, of whom 1,580 have fallen ill.

There are over 2,600 people who are being monitored by the southern regional department, of whom 815 have fallen ill (the number of people who are being monitored also includes individuals from the northern, eastern, and western regions).

There are over 1,300 people who are being monitored by the western regional department, of whom 350 have fallen ill.

How can the spread of coronavirus be stopped?

• The most efficient measure is keeping your distance.
• In crowded places and especially indoors where it is not possible to keep your distance from other people, it is advisable to wear a mask.
• Closed, crowded spaces should be avoided if possible.
• Hands must be washed frequently with soap and warm water.
• When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissue.
• Anyone who becomes ill should stay at home, even if their symptoms are mild.
• People who develop any symptoms should contact their family physician.

Download 'HOIA'

You can also 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 hospital, death and regional information.

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