COVID-19 Information

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COVID-19 Information
Last updated: 11/25/20

Country-Specific Information:

  • The Department of State has issued a Level 3 Advisory advising U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Estonia due to the global impact of COVID-19.  Availability of services in Estonia is good, with grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, and leisure/athletic facilities open.  Schools and universities remain open, however some class levels in areas of higher COVID spread are switching to distance learning.  Public events and occupancy at meetings, churches, cultural organizations, and entertainment venues are limited.  The government has reinstated the 2+2 rule, requiring no more than two individuals within 2 meters of others when in public.  Masks or mouth/nose coverings are mandatory in all public indoor places.  Children up to age 12 and those with medical conditions are exempt as long as the 2+2 rule is observed.  Failure to comply with restrictions can result in fines up to 9,600 euros.  Regular flights are available out of Estonia, however flight schedules remain limited and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.   Quarantine-free entry is available to travelers arriving from a list of countries which is evaluated weekly. 

 Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter?  No.
    • Exceptions include:
      • Holders of an Estonian residency permit or right of residence, as well as foreign citizens whose family member lives in Estonia, are allowed entry. For more information on excepted categories see the Police and Border Guard and the  Riigi Teataja.
      • The Government of Estonia reopened borders to citizens, residents, and long-term visa holders arriving from other countries of the European Union, the Schengen Zone, the United Kingdom, and several non-EU countries.  Travelers must be symptom free and must have been present in one of the approved countries for the previous 14 days.  The list of approved countries can be found here.
      • Symptom free citizens of other foreign states arriving in Estonia for work or studies may be allowed entry subject to restrictions upon arrival.  More information can be found here.
      • Border controls continue to apply to travelers coming from the United States who may be transiting other European countries.  These travelers will be subject to quarantine and will only be admitted into Estonia if they are in one of the excepted categories allowing them entry into Estonia, including immediate relatives of an Estonian citizen or resident, for example.
      • At this time, foreigners are allowed to transit Estonia on the way to their home country if they do not show symptoms of COVID-19. This includes entering at the southern border with Latvia and driving to Tallinn Airport.
      • Restricted border crossings remain at the Estonian-Russian border.
      • There are no legal restrictions on exiting Estonia.
      • Additional information on travel restrictions can be found here:  https://vm.ee/en/coronavirus-2019-ncov and https://www.kriis.ee/en/travelling-estonia-foreigners
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry?  No.
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry?  No.
  • The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has issued  this guidance  on the legal basis for the temporary stay in Estonia for foreigners who are unable to return home due to the COVID-19 emergency situation; exceptions apply. You may also contact us at acstallinn@state.gov if you have any questions on your residency status in Estonia.

 

Travel from Estonia to the U.S.:

 

Movement Restrictions:

  • Is a curfew in place?  No.
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel?  No.
  • Effective November 16, the Estonian government has reinstated the 2+2 rule, requiring no more than 2 individuals from different households within 2 meters of others when indoors in public spaces. This applies to public transportation, larger shops, checkout lines, shopping centers, and government offices.  Groups of up to 10 may dine together, however tables must be distanced by at least 2 meters. More information can be found on the Estonian Government and Police and Border Guard sites.
  • Current guidelines on public events and restrictions, and an extensive list of questions and answers related to the emergency situation, can be found  here.   Up to date information on COVID-related restrictions in Estonia can be found on the  Estonian Health Board’s English-language page.   
  • The Estonian Health Board and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have issued similar recommendations encouraging the use of face masks in public places, particularly in areas where it is difficult to follow social distancing guidelines such as grocery stores and public transportation.  The full CDC announcement can be found  here.  The Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority has issued  these instructions  on how to make a homemade cloth mask.

 

Quarantine Information:

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine?  Yes.
    • Travelers arriving from the countries where the current COVID-19 infection rate is above 16 per 100,000 individuals over the previous 14 days will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. These lists of countries and quarantine requirements will be reevaluated every week and can be found here. 
    • Starting September 1, quarantine requirements may be shortened for travelers arriving from additional countries. Travelers must have a negative COVID test result immediately upon arrival in Estonia and agree to be tested again seven days later.  More information can be found on the Estonian Health Board Website.
    • The Estonian Government has established a mandatory quarantine for all individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and those living with and in close contact with the infected individuals.
    • If a case is identified, the infected individual will be put in isolation. The Health Board will reach out to those who were possibly in close contact with an affected individual and advise them to limit their social engagements.  People who were potentially exposed to the virus are encouraged to voluntarily quarantine themselves at home and continuously monitor their own health.
    • Individuals not complying with a quarantine requirement may be subject to a fine up to €2,000.
    • For more information on quarantine requirements, please see  the Riigi Teataja website.

 

COVID-19 Testing:

  • Individuals feeling sick or showing any symptoms should contact their family doctor or the family doctor help line at 1220. If necessary, your doctor will forward a testing order to a local laboratory.  There is no charge for testing through the public testing centers if ordered by your family doctor.  Full details can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s website.
  • Individuals wishing to request a COVID test, antibody testing, or are in need of a certificate for travel may contact a private laboratory, such as Synlab, Confido, or Qvalitas, directly for an appointment. Costs at private facilities are approximately €78 to €81 for nasopharyngeal/PCR testing, €18 to €23.50 for anti-body testing, and €13 for a medical certificate.
  • Individuals arriving in Estonia from high COVID-19 risk countries may undergo testing at the port of entry to shorten the 14-day restriction of movement requirement.  More details can be found here.
  • The Estonian Health Board has created an online questionnaire to assist individuals in determining their risk of COVID-19 infection and provide personalized recommendations.  Data collected will also aid the Health Board in assessing and predicting further disease spread within Estonia.  The questionnaire can be completed at  https://coronatest.ee.

 

Transportation Options:

  • Are commercial flights operating?  Yes.
    • Passenger flights from Tallinn Airport continue to remain limited.  However, airlines have begun to resume many previous flight paths.  See the Tallinn Airport website for the current list of available destinations.
    • Americans interested in departing Estonia for the United States are encouraged to look at the contact information for airlines at Tallinn Airport here.
  • Is public transportation operating?  Yes.
    • Masks are required on public transportation.

 

Fines for Non-Compliance:

  • Failure to comply with restrictions can result in fines up to 9,600 Euros. 

 

Consular Operations:

  • All visitors to the Consular Section are required to wear masks.
  • The U.S. Embassy Tallinn has resumed scheduling limited in-person passport application, CRBA appointments, and other services as needed.  American citizens should contact us at  acstallinn@state.gov if assistance is needed.
  • U.S. Embassy Tallinn is able to process C1/D, F, some J, and some E-1 and E-2 visas.  More information can be found  here.
  • U.S. Citizens seeking information on the CARES Act, including stimulus checks for individuals and assistance for small business owners, are encouraged to visit the  IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payment site  for more information.

 

Local Resources:

 

Other links:

By | 25 November, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Health Issues, Messages for U.S. Citizens, News, U.S. Citizen Services | Tags: , ,

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