Photo has been used for illustrative purpose.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

In a circular distributed to all public schools in the UAE, The Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE) said new updated measures will be put into effect as of Monday, Jan.17, 2022, until Friday, Jan.21, 2022.

The ESE said the new measures should be adhered to by public school teachers and administrative staff attending schools physically at the aim of protecting and preserving the health of all in the light of the increasing number of COVID-19 infections.

According to the ESE, the updated measures include: Dividing teachers, administrative and technical staff into groups, A, B and C, whose working hours will not be more than 50 per cent. Schools, based on the updates should provide separate rooms for teachers and administrative staff and prevent them from mixing at all times.

They should also hold their meetings virtually.

ESE urged school principals to ensure that all their staff have completely received vaccinations and adhere to the COVID-19 requirements, including putting on face masks and maintaining physical distancing whenever they are at the school premises.

In case of a positive test result in any of the groups, measures will be taken, including turning to remote working for the group where an infected person is.

All visitors to the school premises should have a Green Pass on Al Hosn app, the ESE affirmed, stressing the need to avoid gatherings at all times and that everybody have to eat their meals individually in their offices during break or lunchtime.

School principals have to warn cleaning companies that cleaners should not attend to school premises during the official working hours.

They also, and the school service providers must meet the Green Pass status requirements on Al Hosn app.

The companies have to instantly alert the school administration on any confirmed cases or contacts among their employees to prevent them from entering the schools.

In December 2021, the UAE adopted measures to shift schools and universities for online learning due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

The health experts said, “In the context of following up on the developments of the situation and to facilitate the safe return to schools, we would like to announce that it has been decided to transfer studies in the UAE to the distance education system during the first two weeks of the second semester, starting from the third of next January.”

The decision includes schools, universities and training centres at the state level.

The authorities said that “we affirm the readiness of the educational sector in the country in the face of any emergency situation to continue the educational process in the best way.”