According to the general exception, athletes and members of sports delegations who are not vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 can participate in training activities and competitions even if they have been in close contact with an infected person provided that they test negative themselves. The detailed testing requirements will be established for each competition separately under the infection risk management plan to be prepared.
Previously, the government had to approve quarantine exceptions for each international sports event separately, but in future, exceptions will require the approval of the Ministry of Culture and the Health Board; the Ministry of Culture must approve the sports organisation’s application for waiving the quarantine requirement and the Health Board must approve the competition’s risk management plan.
Delegations participating in international competitions must also follow the requirements established by the respective international sporting federation and are allowed to leave their accommodation only for training and competitions and upon entry to and exit from the country. Among other things, the transport of delegations must be organised in such a way that contact with other delegations and people is avoided.
High-level international competitions in the competition calendars of international sporting federations include world championships and European championships and stages, cup competitions and qualification games and the games of sports clubs in international series. At least half of the participants in the competition must come from abroad.
The quarantine exception does not apply to Estonian championships or Estonian cup competitions. Nor does it apply to hobby sports events or seasonal leagues or competitions held jointly with neighbouring countries.
The government order issued today enters into force on 20 September and is published in Riigi Teataja and on the kriis.ee website.