Health Board recommendations for preventing the spread of communicable diseases
If you are part of the risk group of coronavirus, get vaccinated!
The main risk factors are age and serious comorbidities. In accordance with the recommendations of the expert committee on immunoprophylaxis, Estonia will only provide free vaccines to risk groups. The strains currently circulating do not cause severe illness in people who are not in the risk group.
- If you have symptoms, you have probably been infected and should remain at home – this is the most effective way to reduce the spread of the infection.
- Wash your hands often, especially after being in public spaces – good hand hygiene reduces the spread of the flu and other infectious diseases.
- In crowded public spaces, wear a mask, especially if there are a lot of sick people around.
- If you are in the risk group, avoid mass events during the high season (the risk group includes the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases).
- Air rooms regularly – good ventilation reduces the spread of droplet and aerosol infection.
- Avoid visiting people in the risk group (e.g. care homes, hospitals)
- Leave your sick child at home, to reduce the spread of infections in collectives.
- Do not visit grandparents with a symptomatic child and do not have them take care of a sick child – in this way you are reducing the risk of the elderly getting sick.
Why do risk groups need more protection?
- COVID-19 can be more severe in people over the age of 60 or in people with chronic diseases as their body and immune system may be weaker.
- Examples of chronic diseases are diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, tumours, chronic kidney and liver disease, immunodeficiency, asthma, and chronic lung disease.
- The coronavirus spreads from person to person mainly through droplets while coming into close contact with an infected person. Therefore, close contact with the elderly and people with chronic illnesses should be avoided as much as possible
How to protect risk groups?
- Before meeting a person at risk, make sure you are safe from infection and ensure safety when meeting them: wear a mask, keep your distance, and clean your hands and surfaces.
- It is also not advisable to take healthy children into the care of grandparents because if they fall ill, your grandparents will be at high risk.
- Social welfare institutions must ensure safe opportunities for contact and non-contact communication for people belonging to the risk group.
- Residents of nursing homes should not be transferred between different homes.
- Where possible, home-based services provided for the elderly by the local government of residence should be preferred to placement in a nursing home.
Last updated: 23.01.2026
