New quarantine rules for close COVID contacts in Dubai schools

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has updated the guidelines for the management of COVID-19 in educational institutions.

The changes apply to schools, universities, nurseries, early childhood centres and centres for special needs in Dubai that fall under the DHA’s jurisdiction.

The main updates include:

• The physical distancing requirement for students is now 1 metre instead of 2 metres. However, all preventive precautions such as wearing a facemask, hand hygiene etc. shall continue
• The quarantine duration for a close contact has been reduced to seven days. Vaccinated or not vaccinated, close contacts should quarantine for seven days and no PCR testing is required at the end of the quarantine period if the person is symptom-free. However, if there are symptoms, the close contact must do a PCR test
• Isolation period for a person who has COVID-19 continues to be 10 days
• The Clearance Certificate (required after completion of isolation period for a positive case) will be issued automatically
• Students and staff may return to the educational institution upon submission of the Clearance Certificate, or by calling 800-342 and requesting for the certificate

"These detailed guidelines provide clear, precise and comprehensive step-by-step protocols for the concerned educational institutions so that they are well prepared and equipped to provide a safe learning environment for students, as well as protect staff members," said Dr. Hanan Obaid, Director for the Health Policies & Standards Department at DHA’s Health Regulation Sector.

Dr. Sawsan Al Nahas, Acting Head of School Health Section at the DHA, said: "The guidelines elaborate classification of low-risk, moderate and high-risk of transmission as well as all the mandatory measures the educational institution has to undertake based on the risk of infection."