AR
UR
Private schools in Dubai are not required to place close contacts of COVID-19 infected person in quarantine as per new rules.
According to the latest rules issued by the authorities, students are also allowed to remove face masks when outside. The UAE authorities are easing several COVID-19 restrictions in view of declining infections in the country.
Previously, Dubai had required pupils to wear masks outside and close contacts to quarantine for 10 days. As of February 26, wearing face masks have been made optional for people in outdoor spaces across the UAE.
The recent announcement has further scrapped quarantine for close contacts in all emirates.
However, Abu Dhabi authorities have replaced quarantine with daily PCR testing for at least five days. In addition, Abu Dhabi is yet to provide updated quarantine and mask rules for schools.
Dubai authorities have issued necessary guidelines for infected people and close contacts:
· Pupils with COVID-19 infection must quarantine for 10 days
· Schools will identify and inform close contacts. They can physically attend school if they do not have symptoms
· Any close contacts showing COVID-19 symptoms can only return if they are symptom free or if their PCR test is negative
· Face masks have been made optional in outside areas of school grounds. However, they are mandatory indoors for staff and children above the age of 6.
· Furthermore, masks are required to be worn in all public indoor places, shopping malls and schools.
On Sunday, Expo 2020 organisers also made face masks optional in outdoor areas of the world's fair site. However, organisers encourage visitors to continue wearing masks in “entertainment venues with large attendances”.
Mask rules continue in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi authorities have made no changes to rules regarding face masks and close contacts at private schools in the emirate. Regulators stated that the rules are under review for modifications.
Speaking with the media, education regulators stated that face mask requirement in playgrounds and other outside areas of schools will remain in place in the capital.
“They (Rules) are being reviewed in co-operation with the relevant health authorities and concerned entities in Abu Dhabi and will be announced in due course,” said a spokesman for Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek).
School continue cautious recovery
Meanwhile, education sector continues to recover from repercussions of the pandemic crisis. Schools across the country are gradually reopening for physcial classes with safety measures in place.
As part of the recovery efforts, Dubai's private schools ended all distance learning with effect from October 3, 2021. However, in the wake of Omicron concerns, a number of schools temporarily resumed online lessons in the initial weeks of 2022.
Daily COVID-19 infections are also falling in the UAE with authorities removing several pandemic-related restrictions.
SOURCE: The National News