Results of the most recent wave of the COVID-19 prevalence study led by the University of Tartu (TÜ) indicate that nearly one in 30 adults in Estonia is currently infected with the COVID virus and is still contagious, comparable to late March figures. According to researchers, however, there is no cause for alarm as the course of the disease is now mostly mild.
The University of Tartu (TÜ) failed to fill all state-funded spots in its medical school program for this fall, which the university is chalking up to the introduction of tougher admissions requirements. Several residency program spots remained unfilled as well, with the situation currently most critical in family medicine.
While the start of the new school year is likely to bring with it a new increase in COVID-19 infections, University of Tartu (TÜ) virology professor Irja Lutsar says that children have strong immune systems and tend to have COVID more mildly, and doesn't consider it necessary right now for kids to get booster doses of the vaccine.
Estonia is expanding admissions for medical residency programs from the previous 169 to 186, due to which the University of Tartu (TÜ) will be able to accept a record number of med school grads for medical specialist training. According to the state, the biggest shortages Estonia is currently facing are for family doctors and psychiatrists, two specialties for which admissions were increased the most.