A new UAE COVID-19 update has been shared ahead of children returning to school following the summer break. And today Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) announced that private schools will be following the same rules.
The update states that secondary school students over the age of 12 that attend public school must have a PCR test before returning to school after the holidays.
The negative PCR test result must not exceed 96 hours from the start of the first day of school.
It is not just school students over the age of 12 who must undertake a PCR test, before public schools return for the new term, as administrative and educational staff and service providers are also required to obtain a negative PCR test result.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority shared the COVID update on Tuesday August 23.
On Wednesday August 24, ADEK announced an a COVID update for private schools in Abu Dhabi. Shared to Instagram, the rules state that all private school students over the age of 12 must show a negative PCR test taken no more than 96 hours before the start of the first day of school, while masks indoors remain mandatory.
Other updates included during the announcement stated that bus drivers and bus attendants need to continue wearing masks and continue to sanitise their hands.
Masks must be worn while inside for all and the option of remote learning is available for students and staff who are infected with COVID-19.
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Other updates included during the announcement stated that bus drivers and bus attendants need to continue wearing masks and sanitising their hands.
Masks are not mandatory in outdoor spaces and the option of remote learning and work is available for students and staff who are infected with COVID-19.
Students who are not vaccinated for health reasons or who have been exempt from vaccinations can attend classes.
Schools do not need to take students and school worker’s temperatures. Those who have a fever are obligated to not to come to the premises.
An update that is sure to be well received as the UAE makes its way back to normality after the pandemic is that social distancing inside educational facilities has been scrapped and left to the discretion of each facility, including buses.
Back in June, the UAE reinforced the importance of wearing face masks indoors in the ongoing preventative and precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Wearing face masks indoors in the UAE, in venues including restaurants, bars and events facilities, became mandatory and those who did not wear a face mask inside could faced fine of Dhs3,000.
In February, the United Arab Emirates announced multiple changes to COVID protocols including to face masks, close contact cases, restaurant and event capacities, travellers and quarantining, and more.
At the time, PCR testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers entering the UAE were scrapped and it was announced that fully vaccinated travellers only need to show a vaccine certificate along with a readable QR code when entering the UAE.
A negative PCR test is still required for unvaccinated travellers to visit the UAE.
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