What you need to know about COVID once the vaccination certificate is no longer required and infection is on the decline

In Estonia, coronavirus cases have been on a downward trend, therefore Estonians have been able to enjoy access to restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms for some time now without a COVID pass. The government's decision to do away with the COVID pass in Estonia and to lift the time restrictions imposed on cultural and dining establishments is an important step towards the return to normal life.

According to Dr Aleksei Nelovkov, Head of East Tallinn Central Hospital’s Department of Infection Control, we should still be paying close attention to potential developments.“We have to remember that official statistics are based on molecular PCR tests and actual morbidity rates may be somewhat higher,” says Dr Nelovkov. For this reason, the risk of catching the coronavirus in Estonia is still quite substantial. As of the morning of 24 March, 433 people were hospitalised in Estonia due to COVID and this is no small number.”

Many of the recommendations that protected people from the disease during the darkest coronavirus periods are still useful today.

The most basic recommendations are still valid: wash your hands when you get home or arrive at work, in public places use antiseptic to disinfect your hands and wear a protective mask correctly, and most importantly – if you are sick, even with mild symptoms, stay at home and get an antigen rapid test to make sure you have not contracted the virus.

Risk groups give greatest cause for concern

If you or any of your loved ones are deemed at risk for health reasons, you should wait a while before visiting cafés and entertainment and cultural venues. Prefer establishments that have good ventilation and can ensure that people are dispersed throughout the premises. When visiting public places, be sure to wear a mask, as correctly doing so will keep the virus from coming into contact with your face and airways.

A number of illnesses can lead to more severe cases of COVID. “Doctors usually explain such risks to their patients and teach them how to best protect themselves from infection, and a large proportion of patients have already been vaccinated against the coronavirus. It’s a good idea to get revaccinated so as not to contract the Omicron strain and keep the risk of severe illness low,” says Dr Nelovkov to emphasise the importance of vaccination.

Contracting the coronavirus

If you contract COVID, the most important thing is to abide by the rule “Stay home if you are ill!” If you have a prior doctor’s appointment, feel free to call the hospital reception number 666 1900 and ask for postponement. Postponing appointments is quite common in clinics these days. It is the right and responsible thing to do because, in this way, you care for others by not infecting them. In addition, the vacated slot can be used by another patient looking to get an appointment.

According to the doctor, the spread of the Omicron strain has brought about a change in COVID symptoms and the most common signs include a sore throat, a runny nose or nasal congestion, musculoskeletal pain and headaches.“You might not experience any fever or coughing,” says the doctor. “In other words, COVID is more and more like the common cold. If you are showing any of the above symptoms, it’s a good idea to take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test. If the result comes back positive, i.e. you see two stripes, infection will likely also be confirmed by a PCR test. Under normal circumstances, a PCR test is no longer necessary unless you need to go to hospital for treatment.”

Contracting the coronavirus triggers a home quarantine period of 7-10 days. Use the isolation calculator prepared by the Estonian Association of General Practitioners to determine the right date: https://isolatsioonikalkulaator.netlify.app/. The same site also has a calculator for people who have had close contact with a COVID-19-positive person to determine the duration of their self-isolation period. You can always ask your general practitioner for more information about the duration of isolation, as this will depend on the length of time the symptoms have been present, the severity of the symptom, and any underlying diseases or previous treatments.

“Always notify your general practitioner if you test positive for the coronavirus so they can add it to their information system – otherwise there will be no record of you contracting and recovering from COVID,” says Dr Nelovkov as a reminder.

What to keep in mind when coming to the hospital?

Hospitals, outpatient clinics and health centres always have stricter COVID rules in place. This is to protect the health of all patients as well as medical staff and keep the treatment environment clear of any risk of infection.

All patients coming for day care or hospitalisation must undergo a COVID-19 PCR test. The test must be taken up to 48 hours before arriving for scheduled treatment in the blue container facility with the sign ‘A2’ located next to the A block of East Tallinn Central Hospital’s Ravi Street Unit. Other official testing sites are also accepted. Patients with proof of contracting and recovering from COVID-19 in the last three months are relieved from testing.

Being outdoors is safe, but a mask is recommended when attending crowded events

Spring is here and the days are getting warmer. It draws people outside and we can expect to see more and more outdoor events. Spending time and exercising outdoors and taking part in outdoor events has the lowest infection risk in terms of the spread of COVID.

However, since the coronavirus spreads via droplets, you should be careful when visiting events where large numbers of people stand close together. When attending such events, you should wear a mask outdoors until infection numbers get even smaller.