Back to school: New term is start of 'healthy and safe return to normal life'

Low daily figures against highest testing rates to date are encouraging - but caution is urged

Abu Dhabi residents wait to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at the Biogenix Labs at G42 in Masdar City. Victor Besa / The National

From August 20, most public spaces in the emirates will use the Al Hosn app as official proof of vaccinations and PCR results. Victor Besa / The National

Only people who are considered low-risk will be permitted to enter government department buildings and most public spaces. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE is recommending all residents get vaccinated against Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National

Booster shots can now be taken without prior appointment at any Seha vaccination centre, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi has said. Victor Besa / The National

Mirza Zaib, from Pakistan, gets vaccinated at Biogenix Labs G42 in Masdar City. Victor Besa / The National

Nurse Dennise Docil prepares before administering the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the NMC Royal Hospital DIP in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Nurse Deboral Musthafa gets ready to administer the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the NMC Royal Hospital DIP. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fiji Antony receives her Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the NMC Royal Hospital DIP. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A new school term, low coronavirus case numbers and a high vaccination rate raise the prospect of a "healthy and safe return to normal life", the government has said.

At a televised briefing on Thursday, the public was urged to take all precautions ahead of the return of hundreds of thousands of children to the classroom on Sunday.

Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (Ncema), thanked teachers, lecturers and staff for their way to ensure all schools could open.

"We would like to extend our thanks to all of those who work in the UAE education sector: teachers, principles - all educators helping pupils to go back to school and stay healthy," he said.

On Thursday, the country reported 991 new Covid-19 cases, following 306,873 tests, on one of the biggest screening days to date.

With close to 75 per cent of the population now fully vaccinated, the country is close to what is regarded as 'herd immunity' - when cases spread slowly given the vast majority are protected.

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Here are the separate back to school rules for:

Dubai

Sharjah

Abu Dhabi

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Dr Al Dhaheri urged caution but said together the community can expect a "healthy and safe return to normal life" - with a normal school day a key part of that.

He further sought to clarify an earlier briefing this week that said "all schools" would be affected by a new testing regime that would see unvaccinated pupils over 12s would have to undergo weekly testing.

The regulations are largely for government schools and private schools that follow the government's Ministry of Education curriculum.

Private school regulators in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi later set out their own rules, saying they were unaffected by the testing and vaccine rules.

"There might be different details that differ from emirate to the other," Dr Al Dhaheri said.

Pupils in the government sector - and emirates that have not set out their own regulations - must adhere to the following rules:

- all pupils aged 12 and below must have PCR or saliva test on a monthly basis, whether vaccinated or not

- all pupils aged 12 to 18 who are unvaccinated must get a weekly PCR test

- all pupils aged 12 to 18 who are vaccinated must get a monthly PCR test

- during the 30 day grace period from August 29 to September 29, all pupils must be tested every two weeks, regardless of their vaccination status