Health Board: 1,104 new cases of coronavirus diagnosed in last 24 hours
1,104 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed over the course of the last day, the Health Board (Terviseamet) said on Thursday. This is the first time more than 1,000 cases have been diagnosed in the same 24 hour period.
In total, 7,148 tests were analyzed giving a positive share of 15.4 percent. Testing has now returned to the same level as before the Christmas holidays and the 14-day average is 582.48 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The previous highest number of positive cases diagnosed on a single day was 968 on December 30, which was due to a backlog in the labs.
Of the new cases, 713 were diagnosed in Harju County with 533 of those in Tallinn. 155 cases were recorded in Ida-Viru County, 51 in Tartu County and 50 in Pärnu County.
The next highest number of cases was 19 in Lääne-Viru County, 16 each in Võru and Rapla counties and 14 each in Valga and Järva counties. Eleven cases were reported in Viljandi County, nine in Saare County, seven in Jõgeva County, five in Hiiu County and three each in Lääne and Põlva counties. Eighteen cases had no information in the population register.
The below graph shows that on the majority of days between December 24 and January 6 the number of tests analyzed was fewer than 3,500 a day. Before Christmas, more than 5,000 tests were analyzed on most days.
394 patients are being treated in hospital and 6,632 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 so far.
During the day, four people infected with the coronavirus died, three men aged 88, 76 and 62 and a 63-year-old woman. A total of 265 people infected with the coronavirus have died in Estonia.
Heath Board: High figure is the "effect of the holidays"
Health Board communications specialist Merilin Vernik explained to ERR News that the high figure is related to the holiday season.
"It is the effect of the holidays when people got together and celebrated with friends and family. Although the health board and the government had advised people not to gather in big groups and celebrate all together to reduce the risk of infection," she said.
"The family doctors were on a holiday as well, so fewer people wanted to take a covid-19 test."
More than 22,200 people are being monitored by the Health Board
More than 13,900 people are being monitored in the northern region, of whom 4,388 are infected.
The Eastern Regional Department is monitoring more than 4,200 people, of whom 1,340 are infected.
More than 1,300 people, 433 of whom are infected, are being monitored in the western region.
Over 2,600 people are being monitored by the Southern Regional Department, of whom 944 are infected.
To view more data in English, Russian or Estonian visit the Health Board's website or Koroonakaart.
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 information about deaths and cases in each region. This article was updated a second time to add an explanation from the Health Board.
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Editor: Helen Wright