COVID-19

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS

YOUR HEALTH IS OUR PRIORITY

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS COVID-19
COMMUNITY GUIDE

MOHAP CALL CENTER

800 11111
WHAT IS NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS COVID-19?

Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 is a new strain

of coronavirus that can cause respiratory
infections in humans. It was first identified in
December 2019 in China and has spread
rapidly around the world. Most people who
catch COVID-19 only feel mild symptoms,
but some can get extremely ill.

VISIT MOHAP’S DEDICATED

COVID-19 WEBSITE AND
DOWNLOAD THE COVID-19 UAE APP
All you need to know about the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak
Updated news, statistics and announcements Awareness information and
videos Virtual Doctor to answer medical questions Phone numbers and
official resources Nearest health centers Information in Arabic, English,
Urdu, Farsi and Chinese.

Visit Website Download App Download App

App Store Google Play

YOUR COMMITMENT
HELPS TO SLOW THE SPREAD
We can all help by following authorities' recommendations to
stay home, avoid crowded places, and follow strict hand
hygiene and other essential preventive measures.
WASH YOUR HANDS
One of the most important ways to protect yourself from
COVID-19 infection is to wash your hands well and often.
This is the right way to do it:

8
9

7 10

5
RAISING AWARENESS AMONG
CHILDREN IS AN ESSENTIAL
STEP IN PREVENTION

Click to watch
 COVID-19 FACTS

HOW IS COVID-19
TRANSMITTED?

Some strains of human

coronavirus spread from one
sick person to another through:

1 Contaminated droplets
in coughs or sneezes

Contaminated
2 hands and surfaces

HOW CAN I AVOID GETTING INFECTED?

The virus enters your body via your eyes, nose and mouth, so it is
important to avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

CAN I GET SICK FROM

A PERSON WHO IS
ASYMPTOMATIC?

The virus is transmitted mainly through the

respiratory droplets that someone with
COVID-19 secretes when coughing. The risk of
getting COVID-19 disease is diminished when
that person is asymptomatic, but many
people with the disease show only slight
symptoms. This is especially true in the early
stages of the disease. Therefore, COVID-19
can be transmitted by a person who suffers
from only a mild cough and does not feel ill.
 COVID-19 FACTS

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS

IF YOU GET INFECTED
WITH COVID-19?
COVID-19 infects the lungs. The incubation period lasts for up to 14
days and it takes an average of 5 days for symptoms to appear.
A high temperature (38°C), tiredness and a dry cough are the
main symptoms, which can lead to breathing difficulties.

Fever

Cough

Difficulty
in breathing
 COVID-19 FACTS

WHO IS AT RISK OF
DEVELOPING SEVERE ILLNESS
While we are still learning about how
COVID-2019 affects people, older
persons and persons with pre-existing
medical conditions (such as high
blood pressure, heart disease, lung
disease, cancer or diabetes) appear
to develop more serious illness more
often than others.

IS THERE ANY
VACCINE OR TREATMENT?
Till now no specific cure or vaccine has
been developed as the virus strain is
new. Treatment is mainly supportive to
help reduce the symptoms.
 GENERAL ADVICE

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
COVID-19
Keep physical
Wash hands with
distance & avoid
soap and water for
close contact
at least 20 secs.
with anyone
Rub palms, fingers
showing signs of
and thumbs.
respiratory illness.

TOP
7 WAYS
TO PROTECT
Stay at home and YOURSELF Alternatively, use
follow the rules an alcohol-based
and advice of the hand sanitizer.
authorities.

Cover coughs and Boost your immunity with

sneezes with a tissue, healthy food, physical
dispose properly, or activity, plenty of water
cough into your elbow. and enough sleep.
If required, wear masks
correctly and gloves to
avoid direct contact
with surfaces.
 GENERAL ADVICE

WEARING A MASK
All members of the community are now* encouraged to wear a mask
when in public to ensure their own safety and that of others. These
illustrations demonstrate the correct way to use a mask.

1 2 3

First, wash Place mask to Pinch the nose

hands well cover mouth, piece over
nose and chin your nose

4 5 6

Fix mask using the Make sure the Remove the mask
straps behind the mask covers the without touching
head or looping mouth, nose the outer surface
behind the ears and chin and dispose in
the trash

Note: Mask is for one-time use

As per the guidelines issued on 5 April 2020
 GENERAL ADVICE

CLEANING & DISINFECTING

AROUND YOUR HOME
Practice routine cleaning of
frequently touched surfaces
using proper disinfectants

High-touch, high-traffic areas include:

Floors | Door handles | Light switches | Window handles | Kitchen
counters, taps and cupboard doors | Fridge, oven and microwave doors |
Kettle, coffee machine and water cooler | Bathroom surfaces, taps, shower
doors and sanitary ware

DON’T FORGET

Phones Computer keyboard Remote controls Bank cards, wallets

and mouse and handbags

Children’s toys Hairbrushes Spectacles Interior of your car

and sunglasses and door handles
 PREVENT THE SPREAD

WHY STAYING AT HOME

CAN STOP THE VIRUS
You can be infected with COVID-19 but show no symptoms. If you come in
contact with others there is a high possibility that you can pass the virus on
to 2 - 3 people who, in turn, can pass it on to others and so on. That's how
the transmission chain starts and continues.

We have to break the chain. By reducing the opportunity for the virus to
spread (by social and physical distancing), we reduce the number of
people who get infected.

As numbers decrease, the medical work load will be reduced on doctors,

nurses and health services. This can help the medical staff to provide better
care to sick people to ensure fast recovery.

This is called "Flattening the Curve".

SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THE INFECTION IS

NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS STOPPING IT.

YOUR COMMITMENT CAN MAKE

A DIFFERENCE IN SAVING LIVES.
IT’S IN YOUR HANDS...

FLATTENING THE CURVE

Number of cases

Without
protective
measures
Number of sick people
reduces if most stay at home
With protective
measures

Time since first case

 PREVENT THE SPREAD

EFFECTIVE SOCIAL
AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING

01
Stay at home

02
Work from
home

03
No handshakes or hugs

04
No social gatherings

05
Limit visits to grocery
store or pharmacy
 PREVENT THE SPREAD

STAYING HEALTHY
AND HAPPY AT HOME

01
Boost your immune
system by following
healthy lifestyle
habits.

02
Keep children and domestic
helpers informed about the
preventive measures against
the novel Coronavirus Covid-19.

Continue to next page

 PREVENT THE SPREAD

03
Remember to wash
your hands after
receiving home
deliveries and get
rid of packaging.

04
Provide liquid soap
and hand sanitizers
throughout the house.

05
Avoid social gatherings.
Rather chat via
smart apps.
 PREVENT THE SPREAD

ENCOURAGE YOUR
CHILDREN TO STAY ACTIVE

01
Promote healthy behaviors for
children such as healthy cooking skills
 PREVENT THE SPREAD

ENCOURAGE YOUR
CHILDREN TO STAY ACTIVE

02
Teach your children how to protect
themselves from the novel Coronavirus

Inside the home

Outside the home
 PREVENT THE SPREAD

ENCOURAGE YOUR
CHILDREN TO STAY ACTIVE

03
Encourage children to be
physically active and safe at home
 PREVENT THE SPREAD

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE?
No symptoms

Exposed to the
virus in some way

Do not share bedding,

QUARANTINE towels, cutlery or crockery, etc.

Keep away from

others for 14 days

Possibly infectious

Confirmed case of Covid-19

Definitely
infectious
ISOLATION

Under strict supervision:

May not leave hospital
until fully recovered
 PREVENT THE SPREAD

WHAT IS MEANT BY
SOCIAL/PHYSICAL DISTANCING
AND LOCKDOWN?
Avoid social gatherings
and crowded places

Keep 2 meters away 2m

from others in public

Avoid public transport SOCIAL

DISTANCING
Stay home as
much as possible

Could extend to
official lockdown

Enforced by
government authorities

Travel only for

essential workers

LOCKDOWN Strict measures until

lifted, to stop the virus spread

Leave home only for basic

shopping or medical needs
 MYTH BUSTERS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q Is it safe to order food from restaurants?

A As yet, there are no restrictions to eating
meals delivered from restaurants.

Q Can the novel Coronavirus COVID-19

be transmitted through pets?
A At present, there is no evidence that
companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats
can be infected with the virus. However, it is
always a good idea to wash your hands with
soap and water after contact with pets.

Q Can the novel Coronavirus COVID-19

be transmitted through imported goods?
A There is no scientific evidence that the virus
can survive on items or packages, so the
probability of catching the virus from a
package is low.
 MYTH BUSTERS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q Can I get the Coronavirus

Covid-19 if I donate blood?
A Blood donation is safe for healthy people,
as the Ministry of Health and Prevention
along with health authorities implement
standard sterilization and disinfection
procedures to prevent the transmission of
infections.

Q Can I get COVID-19 from the feces

of someone with the disease?
A The risk of this appears to be low. Initial
investigations suggest the virus may be
present in feces, but transmission like this is
not a main feature of the outbreak.
However, there is some risk, which is
another reason to wash hands thoroughly
after using the bathroom.
VOLUNTEERING
The UAE needs to work together to overcome the
threat of this virus and return our lives to normal as
soon as possible! Our dedicated medical teams are
working at the frontlines to help the sick. We can all
help by staying at home as much as possible.

Do you want to do something more to help?

Contact MOHAP to volunteer your time and expertise

Medical volunteering opportunities

General volunteering opportunities

CORONAVIRUS
CALL CENTERS

800 11111
Ministry of Health & Prevention

800 1717
Medical Operations Command Centre

800 342
Dubai Health Authority