Dubai Health Authority External Circular No. 0000356/2020

Novel Coronavirus (2019- nCoV) alert

To - All DHA Licensed Health Facilities – Private Sector

Greetings,

Dubai Health Authority - Health Regulation Sector (HRS) appreciates the ongoing support and collaboration offered by its Strategic Partners to improve the provision of healthcare services in the Emirate of Dubai. And with reference to the above mentioned subject, please refer to the instructions in the current circular on Novel Coronavirus (2019- nCoV) alert, and to abide by it:-

Epidemiology:

Recent reports from World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that Novel (new) Coronavirus (nCoV-2019) is a new strain of coronavirus that was first identified in a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China.

In addition, cases were confirmed in several cities in china, and confirmed cases in several countries outside China, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea and the United States. More cases may appear in more countries in the future.

Mode of transmission

Most of the cases have had exposure to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting a possible zoonotic origin to the outbreak, and with proved human-to-human transmission.