What to do if you are a close contact?
A close contact is considered to be a person who has been in contact with a COVID-19 positive person for at least 15 minutes and closer than two meters. The contact time is calculated as a total during 24 hours (e.g. 5 minutes in the morning, 5 minutes during the afternoon, and 5 minutes in the evening makes a total of 15 minutes). A person who has COVID-19 is infectious for about 2 days prior to and up to 10 days after becoming symptomatic.
For instance, a close contact is a person who:
- lives in the same household with a person who has COVID-19 (e.g. family members);
- has been in physical contact with a person who has COVID-19 (e.g. shaking hands);
- has been in direct contact with the bodily fluids of a person who has COVID-19 without using protective equipment (e.g. has been coughed on, used a patient's paper tissue with bare hands);
- has been in the same room with a person who has COVID-19 (e.g. classroom, conference room, waiting room of a hospital, work room etc.), if the room does not have adequate ventilation and/or personal protective equipment was not used, and there is a risk of coming in contact with the virus.
Do I have to stay in self-isolation?
After a close contact with a person who has COVID-19 it is recommended to stay in isolation for at least five days and monitor your health. It is especially important to avoid contact with people who are in the coronavirus risk group (regardless of their vaccination status). If full isolation is not possible, wear a protective mask that covers the nose and mouth tightly.
The isolation days are counted from when the close contact took place.
Last updated: 01.07.2022 16:19
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After a close contact with a person who has COVID-19 it is recommended to stay in isolation for at least five days and monitor your health. It is especially important to avoid contact with people who are in the coronavirus risk group (regardless of their vaccination status). If full isolation is not possible, wear a protective mask that covers the nose and mouth tightly.
The isolation days are counted from when the close contact took place.
Good to know: if necessary, it is possible for a doctor to issue a certificate for sick leave for up to five days to an asymptomatic close contact.
Last updated: 01.07.2022 16:22
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After a close contact with a person who has COVID-19 it is recommended to stay in isolation for at least five days and monitor your health. It is especially important to avoid contact with people who are in the coronavirus risk group (regardless of their vaccination status). If full isolation is not possible, wear a protective mask that covers the nose and mouth tightly.
The isolation days are counted from when the close contact took place.
Good to know: if necessary, it is possible for a doctor to issue a certificate for sick leave for up to five days to an asymptomatic close contact.
What to do if you, or someone else in your household develop symptoms of the disease?
- If necessary, contact your family doctor in order to get treatment instructions and/or take out a certificate for sick leave. NB! If you suspect that you have been infected, please do not go to the emergency department or the family doctor's office yourself. First ask for treatment instructions from your family doctor by phone and, if necessary, do a rapid antigen test.
- You can also get health advice from the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 (+372 634 66 30, advice is given in Estonian and Russian; advice in English every day from 15:00 to 17:00). Instructions for treatment at home can be found from the web page of the Health Board
- If your health deteriorates suddenly, call 112. NB! During the call, we ask that you make sure to inform of the prior contact with a COVID-19 case.
Last updated: 31.10.2022 16:49
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If a close contact of a close contact (e.g. family member, colleague) is not symptomatic, she does not have to stay in self-isolation and can continue their everyday activities.
It is also important to note that even a slight fatigue and a scratchy throat are symptoms. If a close contact of a close contact becomes symptomatic (usually on the 4th to 6th day after the close contact took place), he is considered a close contact as well.
Last updated: 01.07.2022 16:46
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