However, there is a regional difference as to when the new regime comes into effect. While it will come into effect on Monday February 1st in Harju and Ida-Viru counties, the changes will only apply to the remaining 13 counties from two days later, on Wednesday.
The government announced the new restrictions Thursday evening, while protocol approves them on Friday afternoon.
While there has been a change of government since the existing restrictions came into effect until the new regulations came into effect, the previous coalition’s largest party, the Center, remains in office while its Health and Labor Minister Tanel Kiik had the last administration held the relevant post (then called Minister for Social Affairs).
The new restrictions apply in Harju and Ida-Viru counties from Monday (February 1st) and replace the current rules.
The rules below apply nationwide from Wednesday (February 3rd).
See the list on the government website.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) said it was extremely important to carefully consider the gains and losses resulting from the restrictions.
“It is the government’s main goal to control the widespread spread of the virus in Estonia. Unfortunately, we can see that the epidemiological pattern of the spread of the coronavirus is now similar across Estonia. This means that we have to do this too. ” harmonize the national restrictions, “she said.
Nationwide restrictions from February 3rd
Entertainment establishments, bars, restaurants, etc.
Food service companies and leisure facilities can be open until 9:00 p.m.
Customers are allowed to stay overnight in restaurants, bars, cafes, nightclubs, bowling alleys and similar venues until 9 p.m. There are no restrictions on the sale of take-away groceries at food service companies.
Only groups of up to six people are allowed and must be seated 2 meters from the nearest table.
The ban on late-night sales of alcohol up to 10 a.m. continues to apply.
The maximum limit in leisure facilities is 50 percent of capacity.
Shops and malls
The current rules still apply: face masks must be worn, the 2 + 2 rule must be adhered to, 50 percent occupancy and disinfectants must be available.
Public meetings and events
For public meetings and events with fixed seats, an occupancy limit of 50 percent is set in the seating area
The maximum number of participants is currently 400.
Guests must sit in statically numbered seats and dispersion requirements must be observed.
Activities without static sitting are prohibited between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 6 o’clock in the morning.
Outdoor events
The limit of 500 people for outdoor events such as trade shows and concerts still applies.
Events cannot take place between 10 p.m. and 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
Church services
A 50 percent capacity rule is put in place and people need to be distributed.
The current rule, which limits participants to 250 without a fixed seat and to 400 participants, continues to apply. For outdoor worship, the limit is 500.
Saunas, spas, swimming pools
Saunas, spas, aquaparks and swimming pools have a capacity limit of 50 percent and the 2 + 2 rule must be observed.
A mask must be worn when it is not in direct contact with water, disinfectants must be available and disinfection requirements must be observed.
Indoor events, hobby activities
The 2 + 2 rule for indoor sports activities, training, youth work, hobby activities and hobby education, and refresher training must be followed when there are contact activities where there is a high risk of the virus spreading.
These are activities in which there is intensive inhalation and exhalation of air and the formation of aerosols. These include singing, dancing, martial arts, playing wind instruments, and other similar activities.
Painting, Pilates, guitar lessons, and ceramics lessons can be done in groups of 10 + 1 and have been classified as low risk.
A list of low and high risk activities is drawn up by the Health Board.
Masks
The obligation to wear a mask indoors still applies.
groups
The number of people admitted outside a group increases from 25 to 50, including for outdoor sports competitions and sports for all events. Groups in such competitions are not allowed to come into contact with one another.
These restrictions do not apply to activities conducted within the national curriculum, professional sports activities conducted within a sports federation, professional athletes and members and candidates of Estonian adult and youth teams, activities related to national military defense and homeland security and for people with special needs, including the provision of social and employment-related rehabilitation services.
Museums
This 2 + 2 rule and obligation to wear a mask indoors remains.
The government approves the recommendations of the EU Council on travel restrictions
The government has also approved proposals to restrict non-essential movements within the EU and between third countries in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Rules included pre-travel and on-arrival coronavirus tests and self-isolation requirements.
The proposal for movement within the EU includes a new high risk category that applies to areas with an infection rate of more than 500 per 100,000 inhabitants within 14 days.
Member States will also require third country arrivals to present a negative PCR upon arrival and a self-isolation requirement applies to both non-essential and essential travel, with the exception of transport and border workers.
MEPs will discuss recommendations for travel within the EU on January 29th. The recommendations aim to coordinate and harmonize restrictions on free movement in the event of a pandemic.
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