Back to school: Sharjah sets Covid-19 safety guidelines for new academic year

Authorities order all staff and pupils aged 12 and above to show negative PCR test for return to classroom

Diana Parva, a French teacher, talks to the class of grade 11 at Victoria English School in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

Pupils of grade 11 go to their class on the first day of the school reopening in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National

Pupils pass through the disinfection tunnel at the Victoria English School in Sharjah last year. Pawan Singh / The National

A staff member checks the temperature of a pupil at the entrance gate at the Victoria English School in Sharjah in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National

School principal Keith Sykes (R) talks to pupils at Victoria English School in Sharjah on the first day of school in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National

Pupils stand in a socially distanced queue at the Victoria English School in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

Authorities in Sharjah on Tuesday issued Covid-19 safety guidelines for private schools before the new academic year begins on August 29.

All school staff and pupils aged 12 and above must have a negative PCR test to return, Sharjah Private Education Authority said.

Staff and teachers should have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine but can be exempt if they have a medical condition.

Exemptions will need a doctor’s report and must take a weekly PCR test.

New employees who are coming from outside the country and are unvaccinated will be allowed on campus for two months during which they should get inoculated. Until then, they will need to take a PCR test every week.

Pupils do not need to be vaccinated to return to school but authorities urged children to take the injection to help control the spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Health and Protection in the UAE listed seven categories of people who are exempt from vaccination.

The categories are:

• Covid-19 patients.
• Participants in clinical trials.
• Pregnant women.

Those who have received a vaccine outside the country.

Anyone who has shown severe sensitivity to vaccines in the past or from any of the components of the vaccines.

Patients with a disease that may conflict with the vaccine. Such people will be given an exemption after a medical evaluation.

Those who have been infected with the virus and recovered.