No quarantine for asymptomatic medics if exposed to Covid, Dubai Health Authority says

A man taking a PCR test at the centre in Mina Rashed. Pawan Singh / The National

Long queues at VPS Healthcare testing centre. Pawan Singh / The National

Cars queue up at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. There has been a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for the coronavirus as schools opened for the second term and new weekly testing rules for government employees in Abu Dhabi came into force. Antonie Robertson / The National

Many people are also getting tested before travelling overseas. A negative test prior to departure is required for most destinations. Pawan Singh / The National

The average waiting time was two hours at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre on Monday. Antonie Robertson / The National

Some testing centres reported a huge rush and that demand for PCR tests had trebled in recent days. Antonie Robertson / The National

Long queues at testing centres and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

To enter Abu Dhabi, vaccinated people must show Al Hosn green pass and those who are not must present a negative PCR test taken less than 96 hours prior to crossing the border. Antonie Robertson / The National

Queues at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through testing centre at Mina Rashed in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Queues outside Parkview Hospital Covid-19 testing facility in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rapid tests are becoming more popular for those needing a quick turnaround to travel or attend events that require proof of negative status. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Covid-19 case numbers in the UAE rose steadily through December as Omicron infections surged globally. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Healthcare workers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need to quarantine if they are exposed to the coronavirus, Dubai Health Authority has said.

In a circular issued to hospitals and clinics, the DHA said no isolation is required for medics if they seem healthy and asymptomatic. The new rule came into effect on January 20.

However, the following conditions should be met:

1. Medics who have been exposed to a Covid-19 positive person should be free of symptoms

2. They must have had both doses of the vaccine, plus the booster

3. It also includes vaccinated people who have been infected with the virus

4. The booster dose should have been taken at the right time

On Saturday, the UAE reported 3,020 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of infections to 822,886 since the pandemic began in January 2020.

Another four people died, bringing the death toll to 2,211.

Recoveries now stand at 767,315, after another 1,333 people beat the virus in the 24-hour reporting period.