What to do if I become sick?

• Wash your hands often. Use warm water and soap to wash your hands, hand disinfectant in public places.
• Wear a mask. It is recommended to wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces and in public transport, especially for risk groups.
• Avoid unnecessary contacts. It makes sense to keep a reasonable distance from strangers in a public indoor space.
• Follow respiratory hygiene. If you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a single use tissue. Throw it into the bin immediately after, and then clean your hands. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (the inside of your elbow), but do not use your bare hand.
• Prefer well-ventilated rooms. The easiest way to ensure ventilation is opening the windows and airing the rooms.
• If you are in a risk group, get vaccinated. Vaccination against COVID-19 is free for all people in a risk group and the easiest way to avoid severe illness. More information on where and how to get vaccinated can be found at the vaktsineeri.ee web page (in Estonian).

If you suspect that you have become ill or if you are COVID-19 positive:

• if you are sick, stay home
• contact your family doctor or the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 (+372 634 66 30). If symptoms have occurred, ask for initial instructions and treatment recommendations on the phone. You can also find advice for treatment at home (PDF document, in Estonian) from the web page of the Health Board;
• you can test yourself with a rapid test. If possible, pick the test that is based on several infectious agents. Remember that the rapid test might not give trustworthy results in the first days of the disease -- if necessary, repeat the test in a few days;
• avoid contacts with other people;
• notify those you have been in contact with about the possible risk of infection.

Additionally, follow the requirements of health safety:

• wash your hands regularly with warm water and soap, disinfect if necessary;
• avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth and nose with your hands;
• air the rooms regularly (at least twice a day, for at least 15 minutes);
• cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your arm when coughing or sneezing (dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands after that).

If your health condition deteriorates suddenly, call 112.

Counselling in case of health problems, instructions for first aid, and information about the way health care provision is organised in Estonia is given by the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 (+372 634 6630 when calling from a foreign phone number). Advice is given by family doctors and family nurses in Estonian and Russian 24/7; in English, the questions are answered every day between 15.00-17.00.

No, starting from October 31, 2022, free PCR tests are no longer done with suspected coronavirus.

In order to diagnose the disease, there are the following methods and options:

• Rapid tests for determining the SARS-CoV-2 antigen, meant for professional use. The samples are taken by a health care worker.
• Rapid tests for determining the SARS-CoV-2 antigen, meant for self-testing. The samples are taken by the patients themselves and, if necessary, they will notify the family doctors of this.

Everyone still has the opportunity to test themselves is paid PCR testing locations (e.g. if you need the EU COVID-19 certificate).

It is not necessary to confirm the result of a positive rapid test with a PCR test done at a health care service provider, it is also possible to turn to the family doctor who will make a relevant note in the health information system and Digilugu.

If you suspect that you have become ill or if you are COVID-19 positive:

• if you are sick, stay home
• contact your family doctor or the Family Doctor's Advice Line 1220 (+372 634 66 30). If symptoms have occurred, ask for initial instructions and treatment recommendations on the phone. You can also find advice for treatment at home (PDF document, in Estonian) from the web page of the Health Board;
• you can test yourself with a rapid test. If possible, pick the test that is based on several infectious agents. Remember that the rapid test might not give trustworthy results in the first days of the disease -- if necessary, repeat the test in a few days;
• avoid contacts with other people;
• notify those you have been in contact with about the possible risk of infection.

Additionally, follow the requirements of health safety:

• wash your hands regularly with warm water and soap, disinfect if necessary;
• avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth and nose with your hands;
• air the rooms regularly (at least twice a day, for at least 15 minutes);
• cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your arm when coughing or sneezing (dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands after that).

If your health condition deteriorates suddenly, call 112.

It is possible to do the SARS-CoV-2 antigen-RTD test meant for self-testing at bigger pharmacies, in the presence and with the guidance of a pharmacy worker. If the test result is negative, you will be issued a certificate that confirms that the test was carried out at a pharmacy and its result was negative.

People who can be suspected of suffering from acute COVID-19 (including symptomatic persons or close contacts) are not being tested. The whole testing process takes about 20 minutes (buying the service, self-testing, and staying in the observation area for 15 minutes).

It is a paid service. Please bring an identification document along to the testing and follow the requirements in force for commercial establishments. Prior booking might be necessary.

For instance, the possibility to self-test is offered by different service locations of Apotheka and Südameapteek (all links in Estonian).

Paid testing is offered by, for instance (the list in not exhaustive):

• Confido
• SYNLAB
• Meliva (in Estonian)
• Bigger general pharmacies (paid self-testing service)

Testing for COVID-19 is not obligatory but if you are planning on getting vaccinated in the future and you are symptomatic, it is useful to be aware of the test result and the time of your recovery in order to plan your vaccination.