Coronavirus: New guidelines for Dubai isolation centres to discharge Covid-19 patients

The authority stated that certain conditions have to be met in order to discharge the patient from the Covid-19 facility

In a new set of revised guidelines issued to isolation facilities in the Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority has said that Covid-19 positive patients who have completed 14 days in the facility and are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, can be discharged without being tested for coronavirus again.
The circular issued by the DHA, a copy of which Khaleej Times has studied, states if after completion of 14 days in the isolation facility the Covid-19 positive patient shows no symtoms (asymptomatic) or has mild symptoms then the patient can be discharged without the need of repeating a Covid-19 test.
However, the authority stated that certain conditions have to be met in order to discharge the patient from the Covid-19 facility. These include completion of 14 days in isolation.
The 14 days are not required to be completed at the facility itself, the days are calculated from the first day of the confirmatory Covid-19 swab taken or from the first day of the onset of symptoms (if the treating doctor can determine this within the medical history of the case).
Other conditions required to discharge the patient from the facility are if there is improvement in the symptoms (if they existed), the patient is not feverish and has a body temperature less than 37.5 for three consecutive days without taking any medication to reduce fever
The circular, however stated that the rule of discharging without Covid-19 test does not apply to healthcare workers who tested positive for Covid-19. "The healthcare workers are required to undergo the required PCR Covid-19 test and ensure they have two consecutive negative results 24 hours apart, prior to their discharge," it stated.
The revised patient discharge guidelines from isolation facilities were issued in line with international standards and are based on the latest scientific studies and guidelines for the management of  Covid cases.
saman@khaleejtimes
 

• Dubai