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A "What should I do?" guide for Dubai residents, tourists and temporary visitors with confirmed Covid-19 infections
11 January 2022
| Last updated on 17 March 2022
Covid-19 guide: what to do if you test positive in Dubai.
Even if you're vaccinated against the virus or you've been very careful following health and safety guidelines since the outbreak, there is a chance that you'll test positive.
So what do you do if you test positive for Covid-19 while in Dubai? Let’s take a look at how you should plan for this possibility and your next steps if it should happen, with our guide on what to do if you have Covid-19 in Dubai for UAE residents, tourists, and temporary visitors.
This guide combines local health authorities' guidelines and the writer's personal experience testing positive for Covid-19.
1. Inform your employer and anyone you've recently been in close contact with.
If you've tested positive for Covid-19 in Dubai, you must inform your employer about your health status so you can apply for Sick Leave or arrange Working From Home.
According to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Covid-positive cases are required to self-isolate at home for a mandatory minimum of 10 days. You are not allowed to roam outside in public or get into close contact with others, and must stay isolated in a separate room, away from family or other household members.
You can however go outside if you have a doctor's appointment, need to visit a pharmacy, or take a PCR test.
SEE ALSO: Dubai Expat Arrested for Breaking Quarantine and Bragging Online
The DHA urges those with Covid-19 to immediately inform anyone you've recently been in close contact with. Local health authorities define "close contact" as spending at least 10-15 minutes with the other person at less than two-metres distance.
2. Prepare for self-isolation.
Whether or not you're displaying symptoms, anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 are required to self-isolate for at least 10 days from the date you received your positive PCR test result. Ideally, in your own room with a bathroom, separated from other people in the house. If you're a tourist, you must stay inside your hotel room.
If you live in a shared household or you're sharing a hotel room with other people and cannot self-isolate by yourself, you can call DHA and request to be admitted into their quarantine isolation facility in Dubai.
How can I request for isolation at a DHA quarantine facility?
Call DHA's toll free number (800 342) and follow the dial menu to speak with a call centre agent.
We've compiled a complete guide to requesting for isolation at DHA's Covid-19 quarantine facilities below.
SEE ALSO: How to Request for Covid-19 Isolation at a DHA Quarantine Facility
If you choose to stay at a DHA quarantine facility, you will remain there for at least 10 days from the date you tested positive. You cannot leave the facility until you receive clearance from an on-site doctor and a discharge note from an on-site nurse.
Please note that PCR tests are not offered at the quarantine facility. Some patients may be chosen randomly by staff for a PCR test, however it is not a provided service. You can take a Covid-19 test outside the facility after leaving.
3. Consult with a doctor about your condition.
Within 24-48 hours of you testing positive, you will receive a call from DHA checking in about your condition. They will ask if you need to see a doctor. If you're feeling unwell and showing symptoms of the virus, you can schedule a face-to-face doctor's appointment at your nearest DHA health centre.
If you're asymptomatic, the DHA can arrange a doctor's consultation for you where you can speak with a medical professional through video call.
Adhere to the recommended medicines and other advise as provided by your doctor. We encourage seeking medical help if your symptoms persist after 10 days.
4. Download the Covid-19 DXB app
Immediately after receiving your positive test result, you must download the Covid-19 DXB smart app, available on Apple and Google Play.
If you don't download it, you risk an AED 10,000 fine.
5. Try to avoid contact with other household members.
If you live with family or in a shared house, ensure that you wash your clothes in its own basket and dry them separately from other household members' clothes. Avoid going into the kitchen and ask your family to provide your meals outside your door, or opt for food to be delivered to your home.
Make sure to thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces in shared spaces such as the door handles, switches, taps, etc.
Always wear a disposable surgical face mask and gloves when stepping out of your room, and correctly discard them after every use.
6. Get your isolation clearance certificate.
Once you've completed at least 10 days of self-isolation, you are free to return to life as normal. You will receive an isolation clearance certificate from DHA within 1-3 days. This document is only issued for Covid-19 patients who have successfully completed their isolation period.
If you haven't received it yet, you can try to request for your Covid Isolation Clearance Certificate by clicking HERE.
According to the DHA, it's not mandatory to take a PCR test after 10 days has passed. However, you may need to take a PCR test if required by your employer's Covid-19 policy/procedure in order to return to work, or if you're travelling out of the UAE.
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