23.05.22 NEWS ... Adviser to the justice chancellor, former high-ranking health official Martin Kadai criticizes the upcoming coronavirus season preparedness plan for lack of analysis of prior lessons but commends the plan's focus on avoiding restrictions.

20.05.22 NEWS ... Doctor Argo Lätt from the Rapla Family Medicine Center said on the "Terevisioon" morning show on Friday that coronavirus medicines should be adopted post haste as they can save lives.

19.05.22 NEWS ... Minister of Health and Labor Tanel Kiik (Center) on Thursday introduced the Estonian government to the COVID-19 preparedness plan for the upcoming COVID season, which is aimed at keeping society as open as possible.

18.05.22 CORONAVIRUS ... It is hoped this winter's coronavirus outbreak can be treated like influenza, the new head of the Health Board said on Wednesday, but new severe strains are not ruled out.

17.05.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Estonia's R number has dropped to 0.75 and the rate of coronavirus is no longer increasing, data from the Health Board shows. As of Tuesday, 124 people are being treated in hospital.

10.05.22 CORONAVIRUS ... New coronavirus infections have decreased considerably over the last month but the wave is not over yet, the University of Tartu's prevalence study shows. The number of adults with protective antibodies remains the same.

10.05.22 NEWS ... Following a recent audit of Ministry of Education and Research COVID-19 rapid test procurements in 2021, the Ministry of Finance has said that their findings will likely lead to the launch of a misdemeanor procedure, and subject to the procedure would be Minister of Education and Research Liina Kersna (Reform).

06.05.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Three scenarios are being prepared for future coronavirus outbreaks in Estonia, the head of the government's scientific advisory council has said.

05.05.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Since May 1, when Estonia launched its coronavirus vaccination compensation scheme, 241 people have submitted applications to the Health Insurance Fund for serious damages to their health.

29.04.22 NEWS ... Less than two years after its initial release in August 2020, HOIA, Estonia's official contact tracing app for COVID-19, is being deactivated on May 1. The Estonian app, available for iOS and Android, was downloaded by more than 300,000 people in Estonia, who used it to be notified when they had come in close contact with individuals infected with the COVID virus.

29.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Fewer than 2,000 people are expected to be infected with coronavirus this coming week and patients receiving hospital treatment will fall to 100, the Health Board's weekly forecast says.

29.04.22 ECONOMY ... Air traffic controller Estonian Air Navigation Services (EANS, known in Estonian as Lennuliiklusteeninduse AS) posted losses of €3.45 million in 2021, the company reported Friday, though revenue rose by a fifth over the same time frame.

27.04.22 NEWS ... Starting next week, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund will be accepting applications for compensation from people who have suffered coronavirus vaccine side-effects. Only those whose vaccination-related health problems have been long-term and been recorded by doctors qualify.

26.04.22 NEWS ... The City of Tallinn is extending its full rent exemption for outdoor patios in the Estonian capital through the end of May and from September through December of this year, while offering a 50-percent discount on patio rent from June through August.

23.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Estonia has rejected offers by pharmaceutical company Pfizer for its new coronavirus drug Paxlovid and is waiting for the outcome of the EU's next joint procurement. However, negotiations are stalling.

22.04.22 NEWS ... The Government Office and the Ministry of Social Affairs are working on a plan so that the coronavirus would not take Estonia by surprise again this fall.

22.04.22 NEWS ... Estonia's vaccine shortage of a year ago is turning into a major vaccine surplus. Interest in vaccination is waning, while factories are working at full power and warehouses being filled with vaccine doses.

21.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Fewer than 2,500 people are expected to be infected with coronavirus this week and hospitalizations are likely to fall below 170, the Health Board's weekly forecast shows.

14.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Approximately 4,000 new coronavirus cases are expected over the coming week, although the number of people who require hospital treatment will drop below the 250 mark, the Health Board said in its weekly forecast.

14.04.22 NEWS ... Ninety-four people are hospitalized with severe Covid symptoms as of Thursday morning, the Health Board (Terviseamet) says. A total of 251 people are hospitalized due to the coronavirus overall.

13.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Risk groups and the over 60s will be prioritized in the Health Board's new PCR coronavirus testing strategy from May 1, the agency announced on Wednesday.

13.04.22 NEWS ... The Estonian labor market saw a strong recovery from the COVID-19 crisis in the second half of last and early this year, thanks to which both the Estonian economy and its labor market were hit by the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the business cycle was at a high point, the Bank of Estonia said in its latest overview of the Estonian labor market.

12.04.22 NEWS ... Beginning Tuesday, all foreigners in Estonia, including refugees from Ukraine, can get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus for free at all Confido clinics and walk-in clinics.

09.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Coronavirus continues to decline across Estonia the latest Health Board wastewater study shows.

08.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Coronavirus will not be reclassified as a common infectious disease instead of the current dangerous one in the near future, the Health Board (Terviseamet) has said.

08.04.22 NEWS ... Health minister Tanel Kiik (Center) says he hopes a bill which would give the Riigikogu a greater role in imposing restrictions during a pandemic situation will pass at the very same Riigikogu, by the autumn at the latest.

06.04.22 NEWS ... The number of newly registered infections with the COVID-19 virus has decreased by one quarter compared to the previous week, and the downward trend continues. The number of hospitalizations for COVID is expected to drop below 250 during the week ahead, according to the Health Board's latest weekly epidemiological overview.

06.04.22 NEWS ... Covid should be redefined from a dangerous infectious disease to a seasonal viral disease before ordering new restrictions in the next coronavirus wave, such as has been done in Sweden, virologist Irja Lutsar said on the "Otse uudistemajast" webcast.

06.04.22 NEWS ... Last Thursday, the Estonian government decided to donate an additional up to 265,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to other countries. Minister of Health and Labor Tanel Kiik (Center) stressed that everyone in Estonia should still get vaccinated and boosted against the COVID-19 virus.

04.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... A total of 129 people are hospitalized in Estonia with severe Covid symptoms, the Health Board (Terviseamet) said Monday, 427 new coronavirus cases were found in Estonia over the past 24 hours, and one person who had contracted the virus passed away over that time.

02.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... It will no longer be mandatory to wear facemasks in public to limit the spread of coronavirus from Sunday (April 3), Minister of Health and Labor Tanel Kiik (Center) said on Saturday. Masks are still recommended especially for people in risk groups.

02.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... On Saturday (April 2), there were 274 patients with coronavirus in hospital and 120 had severe cases. There were 939 new cases and three deaths.

02.04.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Latvian coronavirus restrictions related to travel, masks, work and quarantine were lifted or relaxed on Friday (April 1), public broadcaster LSM reported.

01.04.22 NEWS ... Hospitals in Estonia were treating 141 patients for severe COVID-19 on Friday morning, with a total of 295 patients with the disease hospitalized.

01.04.22 NEWS ... The state's long-term coronavirus plan includes a principle that no further blanket restrictions should be imposed in Estonia in autumn and in the event of any further Covid waves, health minister Tanel Kiik (Center) says.

31.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... The government agreed in principle on Thursday to scrap the mask obligation once the coronavirus level falls to "yellow" on the risk matrix. This is forecast to be on April 7.

31.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Estonia's coronavirus travel restrictions will be eased and simplified from tomorrow (April 1). It will no longer be necessary to show a coronavirus certificate when traveling from most European countries.

31.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... On Thursday (March 31), there were 306 patients with coronavirus in hospital and 145 had severe cases. There were 1,165 new cases and eight deaths.

31.03.22 NEWS ... Heads of major hospitals find that vaccination of people in risk groups is still the most effective measure for alleviating next fall's coronavirus wave and avoiding lockdowns. There is no way to hire enough extra staff or refit hospitals before then.

31.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Coronavirus restrictions have become more lenient with each successive viral wave, health minister Tanel Kiik (Center) says, while the ultimate goal for subsequent waves is for the state to no longer have to impose any restrictions, weekly Maaleht writes.

30.03.22 NEWS ... As of Wednesday morning, a total of 148 people in Estonia are hospitalized with severe COVID-19 symptoms, the Health Board (Terviseamet) said. Over the past 24 hours, 1,405 new COVID cases were diagnosed and three people who had contracted the virus died.

29.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... The Covid vaccination center in Vabaduse väljak (Freedom Square) in Tallinn is to close at the end of this month.

29.03.22 NEWS ... As of Tuesday morning, a total of 160 people in Estonia are hospitalized with severe COVID-19 symptoms, the Health Board (Terviseamet) said. Over the past 24 hours, 1,451 new COVID cases were diagnosed and four people who had contracted the virus died.

28.03.22 NEWS ... Because the number of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations has fallen sharply in recent weeks, it is sensible to replace the obligation to wear a mask in public with a recommendation starting from April 1, Minister of Health and Labor Tanel Kiik said.

28.03.22 NEWS ... By Monday morning, 217 people in Estonia had tested positive for the coronavirus on three separate occasions.

28.03.22 NEWS ... Hospitals in Estonia were treating 355 patients with the coronavirus on Monday morning. Of those, 164 were receiving treatment for severe COVID-19.

26.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... Traces of coronavirus in wastewater have fallen to 'moderate' levels in most small towns in eastern and southern Estonia, the Health Board's (Terviseamet) weekly survey reports.

26.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... As of Saturday morning, 164 people are hospitalized with severe, symptomatic Covid, the Health Board (Terviseamet) says. 1,274 new coronavirus cases were identified in Estonia over the past 24 hours, the board says, while seven people who had contracted the virus died over the same time period.

25.03.22 NEWS ... Following a meeting with representatives of Estonia's cultural sector on Friday morning, Minister of Culture Tiit Terik (Center) intends to propose to the government to thoroughly discuss whether the public mask mandate currently still in force is medically justified in the current situation and how beneficial the mandate actually is.

24.03.22 CORONAVIRUS ... A total of 181 people are hospitalized in Estonia due to severe, symptomatic Covid, the Health Board (Terviseamet) said on Thursday. 1,449 new coronavirus cases were found in Estonia in the past 24 hours, while five people who had contracted the virus passed away during that time.