UAE authorities have clarified the rules for isolation and quarantine for COVID-19 patients.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) published a video to their official Twitter page outlining the guidelines for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, mild COVID-19 patients and severe COVID-19 patients.

Asymptomatic patients

For those who have tested positive for COVID-19, but have remained asymptomatic throughout their mandatory 10-day quarantine period can be released from isolation automatically.

Patients showcasing mild and moderate symptoms

Patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms can leave isolation if it’s been at least 10 days since their symptoms first appeared and at least 24 to 48 hours since they last have had a fever without the use of medication.

Patients with severe symptoms

Those who are severely immunocompromised or are hospitalised must follow the following guidelines to be discharged:

  • It must have been at least 10 days and up to 20 days since the date of their symptom onset.
  • Two consecutive negative PCR tests are required with specimens tested 24 hours apart.
  • At least 24 to 48 hours since the patient’s last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
  • The patient has improved and has minimal respiratory symptoms.

Close contacts

The NCEMA also clarified the definition of close contacts of COVID-19 in the UAE.

Those who have been exposed to someone with the virus two days before the onset of illness and/or the date of the positive swab to 14 days after:

  • Being within a two mere radius of a COVID-19 case for 15 minutes or more.
  • Direct physical contact with a COVID-19 case.
  • Providing direct care for COVID-19 patients without full PPE.
  • Living in the same household as a patient.

To date, there have been a total of 378,637 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UAE – 8,256 cases are currently active.

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