Abu Dhabi updates protocols for Covid-19 cases and close contacts

Safety measures were outlined by authorities on Friday

Abu Dhabi residents are inoculated at the screening and vaccine centre on the Corniche. A nationwide testing and inoculation campaign is credited with driving down cases. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Staff and nurses from the Abu Dhabi public hospital group Seha urged the public to protect themselves from Covid-19 by signing up to be vaccinated.

Motorists queue for PCR tests at Seha's testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche.

Mass testing and a successful vaccination campaign has helped the UAE to tackle the pandemic.

Drivers wait at a centre that provides both PCR nasal swab tests and coronavirus vaccine doses.

Shenaz Abdul Salam, 13, gives a thumbs up as he waits to receive his first vaccine dose.

A staff nurse fills in a vaccination form for a driver at the Corniche centre.

Mariam Al Badi, an Emirati nurse working at Seha's drive-through vaccine centre, has urged everyone to get inoculated against Covid-19.

Ms Al Badi goes through the vaccination process with a driver.

Cars queue at the drive-through testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche.

More than 80 per cent of the UAE population has been vaccinated and the government is urging those who have not to sign up.

An Abu Dhabi resident gives the thumbs up after signing up for vaccination.

Authorities have made the vaccines free for everyone.

A medical worker checks papers as Abu Dhabi residents sign up for the Covid-19 vaccine.

The drive-through Covid-19 testing and inoculation centre has proved popular with Abu Dhabi residents.

Abu Dhabi has updated its safety protocols for people who test positive for Covid-19 or are a close contact of someone infected with the virus.

The new measures were announced by Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee in conjunction with the Department of Health and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre are in line with efforts to “protect the health and safety of the public".

Under the procedures, people with Covid-19 in high-risk categories – those aged 50 and over, have symptoms, are pregnant or have a chronic illness – must visit a designated Covid-19 Prime Assessment Centre for assessment and to implement isolation measures.

In order to end their isolation period, they must get two negative PCR results 24 hours apart or conduct a PCR test on day 8 and 10 and complete 10 days in isolation with no symptoms presented in the final three days of quarantine, following medical assessment.

Authorities also outlined procedures for those with mild or moderate symptoms or who do not suffer from chronic illnesses.

In this instance, they must retest in any health facility in the emirate while continuing to isolate.

If this test is positive, the patient will be contacted by a specialist and told to complete isolation procedures.

Patients in these categories must also receive two negative PCR tests within 24 hours in order to end isolation. But they are urged to continue to comply with precautionary measures once they resume activities.

Close contact rules

Officials also updated protocols for those who are identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases.

Close contacts will receive a text telling them to take a PCR test and to self-register in home quarantine through a link provided in the message.

Fully vaccinated people must quarantine for seven days, with a 10-day requirement if unvaccinated.

Those who record a positive test must then follow the same protocols set out for those who contract the virus.

Those who test negative should take an additional PCR test – on day six for those who are vaccinated and day nine for those unvaccinated.

If the result is again negative, they can end isolation in line with Covid-19 safety rules.