Coronavirus in UAE: Patients with respiratory infection symptoms returning from affected countries to be isolated

Dubai - A circular regarding the same has been issued by the health ministry.

With the spike of the Covid-19 coronavirus infections beyond China, the Ministry of Health and Prevention in UAE has issued a brand new case definition towards the screening of suspected patients. A total of 10 countries have been added to the travel watch list.
Now, patients with respiratory infection symptoms who have returned from China, Hong Kong, Italy, Iran, Japan, Germany, Singapore, France, Kuwait, and Bahrain in the last 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms will need to be placed in isolation, according to the latest guideline.
"Or, if an infected person has travelled to one of the top 10 countries reporting local transmission of Covid-19 in the last 14 days must also be placed in the isolation," it said.
A circular issued by the health ministry, a copy of which Khaleej Times has studied, clearly states that all individuals who have come in contact with an individual known as a confirmed case of Covid-19 within 14 days and presents upper and lower respiratory symptoms will be admitted and isolated as well.
However, patients with severe acute respiratory (SARI) infections, with no other lab results that explain the illness, will immediately be admitted and isolated in a medical facility. "Standard contact and airborne precautions will be taken to safeguard patient's health," said the circular.
Symptoms of upper and lower respiratory diseases are - Fever, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, any of other early symptoms like chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and runny nose.
Meanwhile, SARI infections are - an acute respiratory infection with - history of fever or measured fever of greater than or equivalent to 38 C, cough with onset within the last 10 days and requires hospitalisation.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com