The Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advice, and recommends avoiding all but essential international travel due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Data from the Estonian Health Board shows that as of 3 September, Estonia’s COVID-19 infection rate is 16.1 (per 100 000 inhabitants). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to point out that as a result of Estonia’s infection rate, countries can introduce additional measures for passengers arriving from Estonia.
In cases where travel is absolutely essential, the Foreign Ministry calls on Estonian citizens to find information on the rules that apply to them on the websites of relevant authorities of the destination country, register their trip on the Reisi Targalt website, and keep an eye on developments and restrictions in their planned destination.
Estonia’s neighbours Latvia and Finland will soon discuss the specific terms for border crossing due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The government of Latvia plans to hold a special session on Friday to discuss decisions regarding cross-border movement between the Baltic States. If the infection rate in Estonia exceeds 16 as of Friday, mandatory self-isolation comes into force at 00.00 on Saturday for passengers travelling to Latvia from Estonia, and they must fill out a health declaration form. More detailed conditions, including information about transiting Latvia by road or via Riga Airport, will be specified after the special session of the Latvian government.
Estonia is interested in modifying common agreements to enable the continuation of the free movement of people, and has submitted its proposals to Latvia accordingly. Estonia would like to find a solution that would at least enable the continuation of work-related movement across the border and free movement in the twin city of Valga-Valka. According to the information available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, potential additional restrictions should not affect the free movement of goods.
On Wednesday 2 September, the working group of officials from Estonia and Finland, established by the foreign ministers of the two countries, convened to discuss cross-border movement between the countries. Estonia presented its proposals for cooperation measures that would contribute to and enable the preservation of the free movement of people between the two countries in the context of COVID-19. Finland, in turn, informed Estonia that it was drafting a long-term strategy for containing the spread of the virus, which the government of Finland would discuss in the near future. The Foreign Ministry is monitoring the decisions made by Finland, and will notify of any changes that affect movement between Estonia and Finland.
Reisi Targalt: www.reisitargalt.vm.ee
Additional information on the spread of the virus in other countries is available on the Foreign Ministry website.
Information about the coronavirus and prevention is available on the website of the Estonian Health Board.
