The Government extended the term of the order regulating quarantine

Stenbock House, 29 September 2020 – The Government decided today to extend the applicability of quarantine requirements for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and people in close contact with them, until 31 December of this year.

A COVID-19 patient shall be prohibited from leaving their place of residence or permanent place of stay from the time they were diagnosed until their recovery, except when a person is given an order by a health care professional or a police officer, upon referral by a health care professional to receive health services, or in the event of an emergency that puts the person’s life or health at risk.

A permanent place of stay is also considered to be a hotel or other accommodation, such as a guest apartment, if it is being used during a stay in Estonia by a person who has no other place of residence or stay here. A permanent place of stay also means places where shelter services and safe house services are provided.

A person who is permanently staying in the same place of residence as a diagnosed person or who has otherwise had close contact with a diagnosed person must also quarantine. Exceptionally, a person who has had close contact with a diagnosed person may leave their place or residence or a permanent place of stay, if the person is a health care professional or a person performing public duties in order to perform urgent duties by a decision of their employer.
A person who has had close contact with a diagnosed person may exceptionally leave their home if the person is getting everyday essentials near their place of residence or contact with the infected person in their place of residence or stay is precluded. Additionally, a person who has had close contact with a diagnosed person may be outdoors, if the person completely avoids contact with other persons.

If a person who has had close contact with a diagnosed person decides to leave their home under those exceptional circumstances, then they must carefully monitor their health and take all possible measures for preventing the spread of the disease.

Order of the Government of the Republic must be published by broadcasters and an official notice of this will be sent.