Pupils in Abu Dhabi will be tested free for Covid-19 before they return to school, the emirate’s private school regulator said.
All children over 12 and staff of schools in the emirate must take a mandatory coronavirus test. Only those with a negative result will be allowed on campus.
Pupils in high school are expected to return to class in late September or early October, under a staggered plan.
Majority of children between four and 11 returned to in-person classes on August 30.
Children with special needs are exempt from taking the test.
Pupils will be tested before they join school and regularly on an ad-hoc basis both on campus and at Abu Dhabi Health Services (Seha) testing facilities, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) told The National.
But parents will not have to bear the cost of the nasal swab tests.
"Parents will not be asked to cover the costs, and further details will be communicated in due course," said a representative of Adek.
"Pupils will be tested regularly, and parents will be informed prior to testing. Should any pupil show any signs or symptoms, they will have to quarantine for 14 days, or present negative Covid-19 test results prior to being allowed back to school.
"PCR testing will be required once before schools reopen for all pupils aged 12 (grade 7/year 8) and above."
Children who have travelled outside the UAE will be required to self quarantine at home for 14 days and can study online.
All families must complete and sign a health declaration form provided by schools that they will not send a child to school if they exhibit any Covid-19 symptoms.
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya Shetty, Kai Smith
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The specs
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Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
