Estonia further tightens coronavirus restrictions

Estonia's government has decided to implement tighter coronavirus restrictions due to rising infections, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced at a press conference on Thursday.

Indoor events are to be banned and leisure, culture and entertainment centres, which have been with restrictions, are to shut.

Schools are also to continue distance learning, except for grades one to four.

Outdoor events are to be allowed with up to 10 people. Restaurants may remain open too and serve customers at half capacity but have to shut at 6 pm, although takeaway service may continue later.

Supermarkets remain open but have to implement additional hygiene measures.

The new regulations, which tighten rules introduced only at the beginning of the week, are initially due to remain in place until the end of March.

Infections break new record

"We have to break infection chains," Kallas said. "For this reason we have no choice but to set new restrictions."

Infection numbers have reached a new record in Estonia, with 1,154 cases recorded on Thursday, according to health authorities.

According to the European health authority ECDC, Estonia currently has the highest rate of infections in Europe. So far, the Baltic country with 1.3 million inhabitants has recorded almost 62,000 cases and 567 virus-related deaths.