COVID-19 Information

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COVID-19 Information
Last updated: 02/22/21

***  Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the U.S. may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel.  Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.

Waivers to the testing requirement may be granted by the CDC on an extremely limited basis when extraordinary emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s health and safety, and testing cannot be completed before travel.  There are no waivers available for individuals who test positive for COVID-19.  Individuals – or air carriers seeking to allow boarding by potentially qualifying individuals – who believe they meet the criteria for a waiver should contact the U.S. Embassy at VisaTallinn@state.gov , and provide the information below.  The U.S. Embassy will then submit the request to the CDC for consideration.

The following information must be provided for each passenger:

a. Name (family name/surname, given name), passport number and country
b. Cell phone number including country code of passenger or head of household if family unit
c. Email address of passenger or head of household if family unit
d. U.S. destination address
* Is U.S. destination home address?
e. Departure date
f. Flight itinerary
g. Name of submitting entity if different from passenger
h. Name of company submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
i. Name of point of contact submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
j. Phone and email address for POC submitting waiver request on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
k. Purpose of travel to the U.S. (provide brief explanation of why urgent travel is needed and how travel will contribute to health and safety of passengers(s))
l. Justification for testing waiver (e.g. no testing available, impact on health and safety)
m. Documentation to support justification for test waiver, if available (e.g. medical records or orders for medical evacuation)

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.
  • 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.
  • Restrictions in place across Estonia include:
      • Schools are closed for in-person studies for grades 5 and higher through March 7.
      • Stores, service providers, museums, and exhibits are open to visitors provided a 50% occupancy rate is observed.
      • Restaurants, bars, cafes, and other catering establishments may open to customers from 06:00 to 21:00. 50% occupancy must be observed in the facility.  6+2 rules apply, meaning no more than 6 individuals may sit at one table and a minimum of 2 meters must be observed between tables. 
      • Saunas, spas, waterparks, and pools are closed for public use. 
      • Entertainment services, including night clubs, children’s playrooms, and bowling alleys, remain open but must limit customers to 200 indoors.  Services with fixed seating, such as cinemas and theaters, may allow up to 400 customers at one time. 
      • Indoor public events and meetings, including workshop services, are capped at 50% occupancy and a maximum of 200 attendees.   
      • Outdoor public events are limited to 250 participants. 
      • Indoor group hobby activities and sports trainings are not permitted.  Individual and pairs may participate in activities provided 2 meter distancing is observed from others and a maximum 50 percent occupancy rate is observed in the facility.  
      • Group outdoor activities and trainings are limited to 50 participants per group. 
  • 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.  Travelers arriving from high-risk countries with a mandatory quarantine may shorten the requirement with two negative PCR tests, one of which may be taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival.  In some cases, quarantine-free entry is available to travelers with proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a full recovery from the disease with in the last 6 months.  More details can be found here. 

 

COVID-19 Testing:

  • Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Estonia? Yes
  • If so, are test results reliably available within 72 hours? Yes
  • 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, Medicum, 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.
  • Testing is available at the Tallinn airport.  PCR testing is available for arriving passengers and rapid antigen testing is available for departing passengers.  Travelers planning to use the rapid antigen test prior to departure should check directly with their airline to ensure this type of test will be accepted for travel to their final destination.  
  • A coronavirus testing website has been created with information on different testing options available in Estonia.
  • Information on options for obtaining a certificate of COVID-19 testing results can be found on the coronavirus testing website.
  • 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.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

 

 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 10 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.
      • Exception:  Effective January 1, 2021 arrivals from the United Kingdom must have proof of a negative SARS-CoV-2 test performed no more than 72 hours prior to the start of the trip.  This requirement not pertain to children under age 12.
      • Individuals arriving in Estonia from high COVID-19 risk countries may show proof of a negative test result, taken no more than 72 hours prior, or undergo testing at the port of entry to shorten the 10-day restriction of movement requirement. In both scenarios, an additional negative test must be taken no sooner than 6 days after the first.  More details can be found here.
  • 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.

 

Movement Restrictions:

  • Is a curfew in place?  No.
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel?  No.
  • The 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. More information can be found on the Police and Border Guard site.
  • Restrictions are in place limiting occupancy and opening hours of entertainment venues, public event venues, and catering establishments.
  • An extensive list of questions and answers related to the emergency situation, can be found  here.   Up to date information on COVID-19 in Estonia can be found on the  Estonian Health Board’s English-language page. 
  • Mask use is required in all public indoor places.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on effective mask use 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 COVID-19 risk countries must self-isolate for 10 days. These lists of countries and quarantine requirements will be reevaluated every week and can be found here.
    • Effective January 15, quarantine requirements may be shortened for travelers arriving with proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Testing is also available upon arrival at air and sea ports of entry. Travelers must remain in self-isolation until a second negative test is confirmed, taken no sooner than 6 days after the first test. More information can be found here.
    • In some cases, quarantine-free entry is available to travelers with proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a full recovery from the disease with in the last 6 months.  More details can be found here. 
    • Effective January 15, 10 days of quarantine and 2 COVID-19 tests are mandatory for arrivals from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. More details can be found here.
    • 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.

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 | 22 February, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Health Issues, Messages for U.S. Citizens, News, U.S. Citizen Services | Tags: , ,

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