From Monday (October 25), only vaccinated people or those who have recovered from coronavirus will be able to attend culture events. The government has introduced the rule to try and boost Estonia's vaccination rate.

ERR's Brussels correspondent Joosep Värk asked the prime minister if she trusts Ott and if the culture minister can continue working at the position if she is unvaccinated.

"Culture minister Anneli Ott has said that she will see how her work can be re-organized and we will certainly discuss these things with her. We have already talked about how she can do her job in the best possible way. There is a recommendation to work from home and I believe Anneli Ott will use that option," Kallas said.

The prime minister said she does not know how the situation will be going forward, but Ott has told her that she can continue working.

In a letter sent to the prime minister on Tuesday, the Estonian Association of Performing Arts Institutions criticized Anneli Ott for not being present enough for the culture sector physically and mentally. Other representatives of the culture sector supported the association's statement. The performing arts association also reprimanded the culture minister for her management of the culture sector's wage fund.

Ott, who is unvaccinated and unable to attend culture events, responded and said she has met with performing arts institutions' managers to discuss wages and has explained the agreements and options the state budget allows.

She said in an interview with ERR that the sector's criticism toward her is simply tension caused by the coronavirus crisis and that she considers such discussions important. She said she does not intend on stepping down.

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