Foreigners can have a COVID-19 test done for a fee in order to shorten their self-isolation (the general 14-day self-isolation obligation). To book a time, those interested must call the hotlines of service providers offering paid services. For Estonian residents testing is free of charge, foreigners can pay on site via a card payment.
At the Port of Tallinn passengers can get tested in the pedestrian area of the A and D terminals by Confido medics and at Tallinn Airport at the temporary testing point set up by Qvalitas. This is done on the basis of a medical referral. It takes about five minutes to get a referral and take a sample. At the port and airport people are tested on a first-come, first-served basis. The testing points are open until the last ship and/or air passenger arrives.
Those arriving from a country at risk either by train or by land can arrange testing themselves. This can be done via the public testing call center set up by SYNLAB or Medicum that will open a separate hotline within a few days. As the queue for testing could be 1-2 days long it is advisable to book the time in advance. One can book testing time even before arrival in Estonia. Testing is available at public testing points all over Estonia in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve, Viljandi, Paide, Rakvere, Kuressaare and Kärdla.
Until the result of the test is known, the person must be in complete self-isolation. Negative results are delivered to the person via a text message. Positive results are announced via a phone call. The result is also visible at the health information system digilugu.ee by entering with an ID-card. In case of a negative first test result, the first seven days must still be spent in limited self-isolation. Person is allowed to go to work also to a shop, but unnecessary contacts must be avoided. People should also keep their distance from others while at work.
A second test must be performed no earlier than seven days after the result of the first one. In order to book the time for the second test, the person will be called by the public testing call center. If the second test is also negative, one can resume normal life. This means that after two negative tests, a person will not be subjected to 14-day mandatory self-isolation, which applies to all those coming from high-risk countries who do not take the test.
A country with coronavirus infection of 16 cases per 100,000 people or higher in the last 14 days is considered a high-risk country. The list of high-risk countries is updated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs every Friday and will come into force on Monday of the new week.