Back to School: Monthly PCR test for vaccinated students and weekly for unvaccinated

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE on Sunday announced the protocols for reopening of educational institutions after summer break. The protocols applies to all educational facilities, including nurseries, child care centers, public and private school education, in addition to public and private higher education and training centers and institutes.

The guidelines were issued on Sunday during the weekly briefing on coronavirus situation in the UAE.

The protocol will be activated after giving a period of 30 days starting from the first school day in order to give an opportunity for all non-vaccinated students to receive the vaccine.

During this period, all vaccinated and unvaccinated students will be obligated to conduct a laboratory test (PCR) every two weeks.

After the 30-day period has passed, all students under 12 years of age who are not vaccinated, and vaccinated students aged 12 years and over will have to undergo a monthly PCR test.

For non-vaccinated students from the age of 12 and above, they must perform laboratory tests (PCR) weekly, and the option of distance learning will be available to them and for all age groups, whether they are vaccinated or not.

Parents will be required to download the Al-Hosn application for their children to prove the status of vaccination and test results, by printing the certificates and bringing them to the school.

The educational facility is obligated to manage exit and entry process through the gates, and maintain precautionary measures and prevents overcrowding during their gatherings for classes and breaks.

A physical distance of 1 meter will be applied, with posters placed on the ground to identify parking spaces in all facilities without exception.

Schools must provide guidance and awareness panels for the importance of complying with preventive measures such as social distancing, hand washing and sterilisation.

In the event that symptoms of Covid-19 appear among employees or students in the facility, the person responsible for health and safety in the facility must be notified, and parents should be informed of a suspected infection or to inform them of any developments on the health situation in the facility.

Authorities urged students, teaching staff and other school staff to use personal protective equipment, and not to exchange them with colleagues, and avoiding shaking hands during greeting.

For prayer rooms, all Muslim employees and students must bring their own prayer rug, with a commitment to wearing masks during prayer.

Prayer rooms will also be cleaned and sterilised after each use.

Adherence to all precautionary and preventive measures is important during breaks, such as applying physical distances, and distributing students in groups to prevent overcrowding.

With regard to transportation services, authorities confirmed their commitment to all safety requirements and to the absorptive capacity as approved by the competent authorities.

In the event that the facility violates any guidelines, the list of violators of the precautionary requirements and measures will be implemented on it.


The authorities also confirmed that this protocol is subject to updating and change based on the epidemiological situation in the country, and the health authorities are following up on adding new age groups that will be required to vaccinate during the next stage, after completing the necessary appropriations.