Estonia dropped one level from very high risk level

Estonia yesterday shifted to the orange risk level, down from the red one. Photo: Margus Ansu

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas presented in early April the white book, according to which the corona virus situation in the society can be rated by a four-level colour code. While Estonia’s risk level was initially in the red zone and we reached the border between the two colours last Friday, Estonia yesterday shifted to the orange risk level, down from the red one.

“We are all interested that we would move on to the yellow level and then to the green one where the society could be fully open,” Kallas said.

“I therefore emphasise that everyone benefiting from the relaxation of restrictions from this week should behave rationally because this disease is still spreading between people and other spheres are waiting for the rules to be relaxed,” she continued. “On our side we shall continue the vaccination of the population – a record 53,000 people were vaccinated last week,” Kallas added.

The indicators of the white book observe the monitoring system recommended by the ECDC and that will make Estonia’s data comparable with those of other countries.

The risk level of the spreading of COVID-19 virus can be rated with the colours green, yellow, orange and red, symbolising the low, average, high and very high levels, respectively. The government reviews the risk levels every week. The risk as of today is high but no longer very high. The orange level means that the infection is spreading in the society outside hotspots and the number of infections is increasing rapidly. The purpose of this level is to ensure regular medical aid and avoid the need for extensive restrictions. The assessment of the risk level considers the average number of infections and deaths of the past seven days as well as the number of positive test results, the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalised and under assisted ventilation, and the share of people infected from unknown sources of all infected people in 14 days. It should be considered regarding the indicators that these complement each other, meaning that the assessment of the risk level requires the use of basic and additional indicators. Further information about the spreading of the virus is provided by monitoring (sewage monitoring and seroepidemiological study). The social-economic situation has to be considered as well.

“The indicators’ reading ranges are preliminary and refer to the moments when management decisions have to be made, but definite restrictive or supportive measures are not automatically introduced according to them,” the premier explained.