Dubai Health sets controls for managing COVID-19 cases in educational and academic facilities

The Dubai Health Authority has set controls for dealing with cases infected with Covid-19 in educational and academic facilities, by the health facilities located in them, through a guideline recently issued.

The authority stated, in a circular of its destination to all health facilities licensed by it, in educational and academic facilities, that the new controls come with the aim of adopting best practices to prevent and combat the spread of Coronavirus infection in academic and educational circles, and to ensure that the authority is informed of infected cases, and to maximize the effective management of Covid cases. 19 - Suspected or confirmed by the academic and educational community.

The authority stated that students and employees who suffer from symptoms should stay at home and seek medical advice, and when necessary, treatment must be from a licensed doctor, until the Covid-19 test is confirmed, and any student or employee suffering from chronic allergic rhinitis is required to submit a certificate. From his attending physician in order to be eligible for exemption from the PCR test.

The authority stated that the health and safety committee for education or academic preparation is responsible for following up with the parent of the student or the affected employee to verify the results of the final PCR diagnosis and request the submission of the confirmation report, and all cases that have symptoms reported on the school grounds must be referred immediately to the clinic On-site evaluation.

The controls included the necessity for officials in the school clinic in the educational facility to isolate the suspected case according to the case definitions available on the Dubai Health Authority website, while informing the student's parent, guardians, or emergency contacts, and if the suspected case is stable, the student may be handed over or The employee is referred to the parent or the competent person in the family or the contact point in emergency situations, and unstable cases must be managed by the ambulance service and transferred, when necessary, to the hospital for treatment and medical follow-up.

The authority indicated that the medical team concerned with the educational or academic environment must notify the Dubai Health Authority School Health Department via email schoolcovnotify@dha.gov.ae or by calling 800-888 588, and the Dubai Health Authority Rapid Response Team will manage the case and track Mixing of students, students and staff can return to the educational or academic environment upon presentation of a certificate of recovery from a health facility or by notifying the Dubai Health Authority.

The authority developed a protocol to track cases in contact with the infected case by using the attendance data of students and staff to immediately determine the group of people who had contact with the infected person during the two-day period before symptoms appeared, as well as those in contact from the date of collecting swabs for cases that are asymptomatic.

Dubai Health clarified that it will examine all potential contact cases to identify confirmed cases according to the definition of contact cases, and all contact cases or the parent (s) or guardian must be informed about their exposure to Covid-19 without revealing the identity of the person who has been confirmed to be infected, with mandatory subjection to cases. Contact with home quarantine for a period of (14) days from the date of the last exposure to a confirmed case.

The authority drew attention to the necessity of sharing instructions with contact students or their parents or guardians about observing symptoms and ensuring personal safety over a period of (14) days, and family members do not need to isolate themselves unless symptoms appear on the person in contact at a later time.

And she added, "The parent or caregiver must self-isolate with the injured student who is under the age of 12 years, and that the quarantine of those in contact for a period of 14 days is mandatory, and that students who have had contact with the injured do not need a negative report for the PCR examination to return to the educational facility unless it appears. They have symptoms, and an examination will be performed if the person in contact has symptoms. "

Regarding the regulations for returning to the educational or academic facility for students with Covid-19 or their contacts, the authority clarified that positive cases of Covid-19 must return to school after completing (14) days of home health isolation, and be free of symptoms with the presentation of a certificate of absence Of illness from an approved health facility.

With regard to close contacts without symptoms, who have completed (14) days of home quarantine, they do not need a PCR test to return to school, and the school doctor or nurse is required to conduct a virtual examination and document it to ensure that the child does not suffer from any symptoms and that he is in a healthy state. Good before a student is allowed to return to school.

The authority indicated that a remote medical examination takes place one or two days before returning to school, and if the child has obtained a certificate of recovery during the remote medical examination, he may return to school on the specified date, and upon arrival at the school, the student must attend To the school or university clinic before going to class where the doctor or nurse will make a final assessment before allowing the child to resume learning activities.

The Dubai Health Authority has defined the responsibilities of the school administration and is represented in "conducting a general assessment of risks related to the educational or academic environment, conducting individual risk assessments for all students of determination, ensuring that all licenses and securing educational or academic staff are valid and up-to-date, and ensuring that all students and staff are regularly trained." On health and safety precautions related to Covid-19.

School management responsibilities also include documenting training for review and inspection, ensuring that buildings are cleaned and sterilized, adopting mechanisms to avoid congestion in common areas, placing signs and drawings, identifying prohibited areas, installing safety equipment and ensuring that there is an adequate stock of disinfection and sterilization materials, and implementing environmental health and safety measures. Physical distancing, temperature measurement and the use of masks), monitoring and maintaining the behaviors, environments and health processes that reduce the spread of Covid-19.

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