Days after temporary suspension over COVID-19 infections, eight Abu Dhabi-based industrial facilities have resumed their operations. Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) had ordered temporary closure for these industrial facilities after COVID-19 infections were detected among their workforce.

ADDED implemented the closure in line with the directives issued by Abu Dhabi National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management committee in response to the COVID -19 Pandemic. These precautionary and preventive measures are aimed at limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the emirate.

In this regard, the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) worked in collaboration with the Department of Health and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) to assist the temporarily closed industrial facilities in conducting comprehensive examinations for all employees to review their COVID-19 status. Workers who tested positive and those who came in close contact with infected cases were immediately quarantined by the authorities. After employees tested negative, the industrial facilities were allowed to resume their operations.

Speaking over the development, Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of IDB, said that it is the responsibility of all members of society, particularly the owners of the industrial facilities, to ensure adequate awareness and communication related to health protocols such that there is strict compliance in order to combat the spread of the pandemic.

ADDED also stressed the significance of public contributions to improving the health conditions such that economic activities could resume to their full capacity with strict adherence to COVID-19 procedures. The Department noted the importance of conducting weekly checks and examinations for all workers and ensuring that they receive the vaccine to protect them from infections. Along with these measures, it is important to ensure continued adherence to social distancing and sterilization activities of both commercial facilities and workers.

ADDED underlined the stringent non-tolerance policy for commercial facilities owners to ensure necessary compliance with the approved preventive measures. It also reminded the owners of the repercussions of violating these safety procedures.

Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of IDB, maintained that the field inspection and surveillance team initiated the closure protocols in accordance with the decisions issued by the Department. Significantly, these decisions were issued in line with the directives of the competent authorities as part of the precautionary and preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 among workers.

He highlighted that the IDB's inspection team and representatives from relevant authorities such as the Abu Dhabi Department of Health carried out periodic field visits in order to follow up with the industrial facilities across the emirate. These inspections were carried out to ensure that precautionary measures are being followed in accordance with the prescribed procedures and instructions. Special focus was paid on the industrial facilities that were closed due to non-compliance with precautionary measures in order to decide on their resumption.

Engineer Nabil Saleh Al-Awlaki, Director of Environment, Health, and Safety at IDB noted that the Bureau has issued a Business Continuity Guide for the industrial sector that aims to direct industrial facilities to design business continuity plans. It further seeks to guide businesses to implement these plans to mitigate the disruption of production operations, while ensuring rigorous compliance with precautionary measures.