COVID-19: Dubai employees in contact with covid patients need a 10-day quarantine

All Dubai government employees that have been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient are required to self-quarantine themselves for a period of 10 days, as per a circular issued by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR).

During this period, if the employee's job can be conducted remotely they will have to continue working. If not, the first incident of close contact will be granted as urgent leave, and should this happen a second time the period will be deducted from their annual leave or as leave without pay if they do not have any remaining annual leave days.

The DGHR confirmed that the issuance of the circular No.2 of 2021 comes in line with Dubai government’s need to safeguard the health and safety of government employees and to support the precautionary measures taken to keep the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces to a minimal.

The DGHR said the circular was issued after many cases were reported of people coming into close contacts with infected patients due to the poor compliance with the approved precautionary measures.

The department called on all employees who certain of coming in close contact with an infected person to immediately notify their direct manager or the Human Resources Department, or they will be held legally accountable in case of refraining or being reluctant to do so, something which could be considered an administrative violation that will require legal actions.