In line with the efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has urged all people who have come in close contact with virus-infected cases to complete the entire 10-day quarantine period in order to safeguard themselves.

The Authority has described a close contact as any individual who has spent more than 15 minutes with a COVID-19 positive person without maintaining a physical distance of at least 2 meters. Any close contact must quarantine themselves for at least 10 days from the last meeting with the confirmed case.

Dr Hend Al Awadhi, Head of Health Promotion and Education at the DHA, has maintained that close contacts must follow all precautionary measures listed by the authority in the DHA’s guidebook: "Close Contacts: Quarantine and Precautionary Guidelines". People can easily access the guidebook from the DHA website www.dha.gov.ae.

Dr Al Awadhi also underlined 10 crucial practices that must be avoided by close contacts while quarantining for 10 days. to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

1. Not completing the 10-day quarantine period: According to Dr Al Awadhi, close contacts MUST complete the quarantine period of 10 days even if they do not develop any virus symptoms or even if they receive a negative PCR test. It is important for people to isolate themselves after coming in contact with a COVID-19 confirmed case.

Dr Al Awadhi explained that the quarantine period is set for 10 days because it is the incubation period of the virus as per the findings of the latest studies.

"Even if close contacts don’t have any symptoms they can still be infectious and infect others, which is why it is mandatory to complete the 10-day quarantine period," she added.

She also affirmed that the individual is not required to undergo a PCR test after completing the 10-day period if there are no symptoms. However, if symptoms appear during the 10-day quarantine, it is important that close contacts perform a PCR test.

"If the test result is positive, they must follow home isolation or institutional isolation procedures. If the test result is negative, the close contact must STILL complete the 10-day quarantine period," she added.

2. Not disclosing that you’re a close contact: It is important for close contacts to inform their friends, family and workplace they have come in close contact with an infected person in order to ensure that necessary precautionary measures are followed.

3. Getting in close contact with others: Dr Al Awadhi underlined that it is not necessary that a person in quarantine is infected with COVID-19. Quarantine is important as a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring that the virus is not transmitted to others. Therefore, it is necessary for close contacts to stay in 10-day quarantine and do not meet other individuals during the period. In addition, she also urged the people to follow precautionary measures to support the ongoing efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect the community.

4. Allowing visitors to your home: Dr Al Awadhi stressed that people who are quarantining at home should not invite guests and entertain visitors, adding that the whole objective of quarantining is to avoid unnecessary exposure to other people to combat the spread of the disease.

In this process, she explained two types of quarantine. The first option is to home quarantine taking place at the person's residence itself. It will take place only after making sure that the conditions for home quarantine are fulfilled. People quarantining at home usually have no to mild symptoms. However, at home, close contacts must ensure that they do not interact or share personal items with other people on the same premise.

The second type is institutional quarantine, where close contact quarantines in a quarantine facility/institution dedicated for those coming in contact with COVID-19 infected people. It is an option in case close contacts are not able to meet the conditions necessary for home quarantine or require additional care due to medical reasons. Dr Al Awadhi added that close contacts will be given all necessary care and monitoring during their stay at the quarantine facility.

5. Sharing items, rooms or the toilet with others: Al Awadhi stated that there are certain requirements for home quarantine to ensure that the contact person is isolated from healthy household members. In this regard, it is important that close contacts do not share personal items, rooms and toilets with one another people at home. For home quarantine, they must include:

·        Availability of a separate room with a private bathroom

·        Close contact should be in a stable health condition

·        Availability of proper means of communication including an active phone number

·        A first-aid kit with a thermometer

·        Ensuring that no high-risk individuals are sharing the household

·        Awareness and commitment to quarantine regulations with regard to personal care and waste management.

6. Sharing the household with high-risk individuals: According to the DHA guidebook, there are a number of high-risk groups against COVID-19. Therefore, it is important to that they should not be in the same household as a positive or close contact case. The high-risk groups include elders above the age of 60, people with chronic diseases, people of determination and people staying at long-term care centers.

7. Leaving homes: It is significantly important for close contacts to refrain from going out or meeting other people while staying in quarantine. They can choose to order essentials through home delivery service or ask someone else to shop for necessary items. Once the products arrive at home, they should be thoroughly sanitised before use.

8. Getting the vaccine while quarantining: Close contacts should get vaccinated only after completing their 10-day quarantine, provided that they do not have any symptoms or fever in the last three days.

9. Going for any medical appointment or procedure: Dr Al Awadhi has suggested close contacts to postpone their appointments and medical procedures until after the 10-day quarantine period, unless it is an emergency medical appointment. It is important to ensure their safety and the safety of other individuals.

10. Ignoring precautionary measures: It is very important for close contacts to abide by necessary precautionary measures such as wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, sanitizing regularly in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

WAM