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Why was that decision made? Are the applicable restrictions sufficient? Is a normal summer worth waiting for? Estonian Minister of Public Administration Jaak Aabas answered these and other questions from Raadio 4.
– The pandemic figures are high, we have decided that it is worth extending the restrictions for at least another two weeks. If we follow all the rules and avoid contact as much as possible, it will already be possible to gradually ease the restrictions in late April or early May.
Every two weeks, we discuss the situation and the forecasts with experts, with the Scientific Council. The first positive trends are already visible, with a slight decrease in morbidity rates, although the figures are still very high.
There are many new cases, many serious patients both in hospitals and at home, so it would not be worth removing the restrictions in the near future. If the quarantine is relaxed in May, we will return to normal life in the summer.
– Yesterday, Kaja Kallas stated in an interview that the tightening of restrictions has not yet produced the desired result that everyone expected. What is the result you expected?
– I wouldn’t say that. We really see some result. Clearly, it was not worth waiting for good changes to come very soon. Experts argue that any restrictions imposed are beneficial.
– Are these restrictions sufficient? What did the Scientific Council advise the government this time? Didn’t he advocate an even stricter quarantine?
– No, they believe that the current measures are sufficient. It’s just that those restrictions need to be adhered to longer and consistently.
– And what awaits schools? The restrictions have been extended until April 25, but the testing session begins on April 19. How to prepare and organize exams? Is the government discussing this? How will it be addressed?
– It has already been decided that the exams will be carried out in accordance with all the regulations, the only novelty is that rapid tests will be carried out. The Ministry of Education and Science, of course, will be consulted by the Department of Health. They provide schools with guidelines and instructions on how to take the tests.
– The Scientific Council also recommends the gradual opening of schools and starting to do so in regions with less morbidity. What does the government think about this?
– Regarding schools, nothing is clear yet. The Scientific Council did not name any specific number. It has simply been said that if morbidity decreases, they will return to the subject. This is probably how things will be. Since beginners were the last to start distance education, they will be the first to return.
– Kaja Kallas says the quarantine in Estonia will last until late summer. Is this a realistic scenario? Or maybe it has to do with the goal of making the Estonian people follow the rules?
– I think the second option. All experts and the government believe that summer will come. That is why, especially now, we must respect the restrictions, reduce the number of contacts. After all, it is a seasonal illness. The air will heat up and the incidence will decrease. This means that all processes now run on a convenient schedule. If we are able to comply, we can relax the restrictions a bit. After all, the vaccination is in progress, it will also have positive results. I hope we have summer.
Delphi Remember that last day 4,856 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus infection were diagnosed in Estonia, including 4,856 tests, and six previously infected people died, health services said on Thursday.
The day before, 1,009 new cases of COVID-19 were identified and six previously infected people died.
The incidence of COVID-19 in Estonia in the last two weeks is 1,221.02 cases per 100,000 cases. population.
As of Thursday morning, 711 people are being treated for COVID-19 in the country’s hospitals, 76 of them in intensive care units. Artificial lung ventilation is required for 48 patients.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 107,253 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Estonia, 908 patients have died and 83,417 have recovered.
A total of 203,365 people have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Estonia with at least one dose of the vaccine, and 63,696 people have received both doses of the vaccine.
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