Coronavirus: Dubai conducts 35,000 Covid-19 tests for private school staff

Thousands of teachers and staff working at private schools in Dubai were tested for Covid-19 before the start of the academic year. Courtesy: Dubai Health Authority

Thousands of teachers and staff working at private schools in Dubai were tested for Covid-19 before the start of the academic year. Courtesy: Dubai Health Authority

Thousands of teachers and staff working at private schools in Dubai were tested for Covid-19 before the start of the academic year. Courtesy: Dubai Health Authority

Thousands of teachers and staff working at private schools in Dubai are tested for Covid-19 before the start of the academic year. Courtesy: Dubai Health Authority

Tens of thousands of Covid-19 tests were carried out on teachers and staff before schools in Dubai reopened this week.

On Tuesday, Dubai Health Authority said it had conducted 35,000 tests on private school staff across the emirate.

The tests were conducted free of charge and were part of precautionary measures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Mandatory testing for staff was announced prior to the start of the academic year to ensure the safe resumption of in-person classes again this week. Schools and universities across the country had closed their doors and implemented distance learning from March.

The authority said it formed a specialised medical task force to conduct the screenings in time for the new school year.

The Covid-19 tests, offered in nine centres over a period of six days, were successfully completed according to schedule, the authority said.

Those who were tested received their results within 12 hours of the procedure.

The new academic year began this week with private schools in Dubai opting bringing pupils back for face-to-face lessons from Sunday.

Safety measures including pupil bubbles, staggered return, blended learning models and mandatory face masks are in place to protect pupils and staff.

UAE schools resume in-person classes