Abu Dhabi on Friday released an updated list of procedures for those who test positive for Covid-19 or have been in close contact with someone who tested positive.
For Covid-positive cases
- Patients in high-risk categories – those who are 50 years old and above, have symptoms, have a chronic disease and pregnant women – must first visit a designated Covid-19 Prime Assessment Center for medical assessment and isolation measures.
- To end isolation, they must get two negative results 24 hours apart. Otherwise, they must conduct a PCR test on days eight and 10 and complete 10 days of isolation with no symptoms in the last 3 days of isolation, after medical evaluation.
- Patients who fall under other categories – those with mild or medium symptoms and no chronic diseases – must first retest in any health facility in the emirate and continue to isolate. If the retest comes back positive as well, they will be contacted by a specialist to complete the isolation procedures.
- If the retest comes back negative, they must wait 24 hours and then take a third PCR test. If this test also comes back negative, they may resume regular activities while continuing to follow precautionary measures.
For close contacts
- Close contacts will receive an SMS to conduct a PCR test and register in the home quarantine programme through a link that will be provided in the SMS.
- Vaccinated individuals must quarantine themselves for seven days, while unvaccinated individuals must do so for 10 days.
If the PCR test returns negative
- Close contacts must continue to quarantine and conduct an additional PCR test in any health facility in the emirate on Day 6 (for vaccinated individuals) or Day 9 (for unvaccinated).
- If the second test returns negative, they can resume activities as usual – but must continue to follow precautionary measures.
If the PCR test returns positive
- High-risk categories (such as those who are 50 years old and above, who have symptoms, have a chronic disease or are pregnant) must visit a designated Covid-19 Prime Assessment Centre for medical assessment and isolation measures.
- Those with mild or medium symptoms and no chronic diseases will need to retest in any health facility in the emirate and continue to isolate.
- If the second test returns positive, a specialist will be in touch to complete the isolation procedures.
- However, if the second test returns negative, close contacts will need to obtain a third negative PCR test result within 24 hours. If the test returns negative, they can resume activities as before.
When can close contacts end isolation?
- Get two negative PCR test results that are 24 hours apart, or
- Conduct a PCR test on days 8 and 10 and complete 10 days in isolation with no symptoms in the last three days of isolation, after medical evaluation.