President went on Swiss ski trip at end of 2020
President Kersti Kaljulaid went on a ski trip to Switzerland during the last days of 2020, the president's office has confirmed. This is despite recommendations issued to the public by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to travel without an urgent need.
"The infectious situation and the infection rate in Switzerland are no different from Estonia's. The risk of infection was the same," public relations advisor to the president Taavi Linnamäe told ERR.
Linnamäe said Kaljulaid took a coronavirus test and tested negative when she arrived back in Estonia. The president then stayed in isolation and tested negative for a second time.
"It's a limited isolation, which means that she is allowed to go to work but not to shops or the theater," Linnamäe said.
He added that Kaljulaid can continue to work during the isolation period and is currently doing so.
Kaljulaid: I behaved in a way that seemed reasonable at the time.
Commenting on the situation on ETV's daily show "Ringvaade" on Monday evening, Kaljulaid said: "We have prohibitions and we have recommendations and the prohibitions clearly can't be broken.
"Regarding the recommendations, as much as we have freedom there, we all try to behave according to our risk assessment and what is important to us. I have acted within these recommendations, assessed the situation, not taken higher risks. While being in Switzerland, we did not stay in a hotel, we rented an apartment and spent a lot of time outside.
"I think that in the frame of these restrictions, considering the additional risks, I behaved in a way that seemed reasonable at the time. And I definitely didn't take additional risks, all tests taken after the trip have been negative."
--
Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!
Editor: Roberta Vaino