People returning to the UAE from these countries must self-isolate for 14 days

On Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention issued a statement outlining countries from which incoming travelers would be subject to a mandatory 14-day home quarantine.

All travellers who return to the UAE from ‘Countries of Concern’ or from one of the top ten countries reporting local transmission of Covid-19 will be subject to home isolation for 14 days.

Read: UAE confirms 15 more coronavirus cases; total count at 74

The ‘Countries of Concern’ are China, Hong Kong, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Singapore and France.

The statement added that the list can quickly change depending on the situation.

For all school students and staff across the country, a mandatory period of self-isolation for 14 days must be observed after returning to the UAE, irrespective of the country to which they have travelled.

Read: Dubai’s DXB and DWC airports shut down smart gates

Schools in the UAE are closed until April 5, and any students or staff who travel during that period must self-isolate at home for 14 days upon their return.

Also on Tuesday, the UAE reported 15 new cases of the coronavirus Covid-19 in the country. The new cases included people who were in contact with previously detected cases as well as others who had entered the UAE from foreign destinations.

Read: Dubai’s Emirates to waive change penalties for all bookings made until March 31

In the statement, Dr Manal Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare at the Dubai Health Authority, said that during the home quarantine period, people should avoid contact with others, using public transportation, visiting crowded public spaces and must not go to work or school.

Read: Etihad, Air Arabia offer flexible booking options

She said, “DHA and all relevant health authorities in the UAE are working together and have in place screenings at the airport as well as after-travel precautions that people with recent history of travel to places of concern must follow. The period of home quarantine will be for 14 days since that is the incubation period of this virus.

“The basic idea is to stay indoors and to keep a distance from other family members (about 3 feet or 1 meter) until the self-isolation period is over. This is a matter of community health and it’s a precaution that should be taken seriously.”

Dubai airports have been carrying out non-intrusive thermal screening for all incoming passengers. Travellers from countries with a high infection rate are screened twice.

Airlines across the UAE have started offering to waive change penalties on flight bookings.

Dubai Emirates’ waiver policy extends to all bookings made until the end of March. Passengers who decide to change their travel plans can do so for travel within an 11-month date range in the same booking class without change penalties.

Etihad and Air Arabia have also rolled out similar measures whereby customers will only need to pay the fare difference, if any, at the time of rebooking their flights.