Estonian Health Board recommends COVID-19 testing in schools to be ended

TALLINN - The Estonian Health Board recommends that COVID-19 testing in schools, which has turned out to be too much of a burden for schools, be discontinued, public broadcaster ERR reported. 

Mari-Anne Harma, acting director general of the Health Board, said that the coronavirus is currently spreading the most among children and parents, which can be attributed to the start of school. Therefore, according to Harma, it cannot be ruled out that the Health Board will at some point recommend a switch to distance learning.

At the same time, the Health Board sees no need for it at present, and distance learning will be considered when the risk matrix reaches a red or very high level of risk.

"A month of schooling has shown that children are mainly infected in the family circle and then at school, and we see virtually no asymptomatic infection," said Harma.

Regarding the burdensome testing in schools, the acting director general of the Health Board said that the Health Board's recommendation is for it to be stopped. The rules of isolation of children should also be reviewed.

The Health Board has sent both proposals to the Ministry of Social Affairs and they are expected to reach the scientific advisory board and the government at some point, but it is not yet known when, the official added.