School children can shorten their self-isolation period with a negative rapid antigen test from Monday

"Testing and its flexible organisation are essential in a pandemic in order to identify those infected early and break the chains of infection," said Minister of Health and Labour Tanel Kiik. "The increase of Omicron variant infections of the coronavirus has placed a heavy burden on PCR testing, so it makes sense to focus on testing people with symptoms. "Rapid tests, which are increasingly being used by many companies and state agencies to prevent the spread of the virus, can also be used in schools," he added.

"Testing in schools so far has been effective. It has helped to identify those infected early, to break the chains of infection, and to make the school environment safer," said Liina Kersna, Minister of Education and Research. The minister explained that the new testing order will make it easier for students to shorten their self-isolation period in the future. "If a student who has been in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 does not develop symptoms, they no longer have to take a PCR test - a rapid test taken at home is sufficient. A student who tests negative on the morning of the fifth day may go to school and participate in both hobby groups and youth work."

Simplified self-isolation system in force from 24 January

A student who has been in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 in an educational institution must go home and self-isolate immediately upon learning of the close contact. To shorten the self-isolation period, they must take a rapid antigen test on the morning of the fifth day after being in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19. If the result of the test is negative, they may only go to school and participate in hobby education and youth work on the same day and for the next two days. Other activities where the COVID certificate is required, such as going to the cinema, theatre, concert, museum, spa, and café, are prohibited after seven days of being in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19. If symptoms of COVID-19 occur, the student must stay home immediately.

If the test taken on the fifth day is positive, the student must not go to school and must contact their family physician or call the family doctor hotline at 1220.

If a student comes from a trip, they must self-isolate for four days. On the fifth day, they can take a rapid antigen test. If the test is negative and the student has no symptoms, they can only go to school and take part in hobby education and youth work for the next three days. The self-isolation period ends on the eighth day.

If the student does not want to take a test, they must self-isolate for seven days after being in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.

Students who have been in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 but have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months do not need to self-isolate, but they must monitor their health closely, wear a mask in crowded places, avoid unnecessary contact, and not visit relatives at risk.

The purpose of the change is to reduce the workload and queues for PCR testing. The dominance of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant has led to a large increase in infections and a sharp increase in the burden on public testing. To avoid becoming overburdened, resource-intensive mass PCR testing of school children can be replaced with rapid antigen tests for asymptomatic people who have been in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.

The current order stipulates that in the event of being in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 at school or hobby education, the child must stay at home as soon as they find out they have been in close contact and take a coronavirus PCR test no earlier than on the fourth day after being in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.

The Government Communication Unit will publish the orders and the explanatory memoranda on the website kriis.ee.

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