Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi tells employers to get all staff tested or face fines

Officials say some companies have failed to ensure employees were checked for infection

The new screening drive through for COVID-19 in Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The new screening drive through for COVID-19 in Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor at a Covid-19 drive-through testing centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Antonie Robertson / The National

A nurse checks the temperature of a visitor at the Ras Al Khaimah drive-through testing centre. Antonie Robertson / The National

Medics inside a testing centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Antonie Robertson / The National

Instructions for those who come to be tested at the Ras Al Khaimah drive-through testing centre. Antonie Robertson/The National

A medic waits at the main screening station for the next visitor to be tested. Antonie Robertson / The National

Nurses wait to test people for the coronavirus at a drive-through testing centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man uses his Emirates ID card to register before taking the test. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Ras Al Khaimah drive-through testing centre will help identify undiagnosed cases in the emirate. Antonie Robertson / The National

The nurses smile as visitors arrive at the National Screening Centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Cars queue up at the National Screening Centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A visitor gets tested at the drive-through centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Nurses sanitise their hands after conducting a swab test. Victor Besa / The National

A passenger waits to get tested at the Mina Rashid centre. Victor Besa / The National

Nick Webster of The National gets briefed by a nurse before he is tested for coronavirus at the National Screening Centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Cars queue up at the National Screening Centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

The new screening drive through for COVID-19 in Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The new screening drive through for COVID-19 in Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The new screening drive through for COVID-19 in Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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Abu Dhabi was set to expand coronavirus screening on Monday after telling staff at all commercial and industrial companies to report for testing.

The decision by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development was expected to affect tens of thousands of employees in areas such as retail, construction and heavy industry.

In a message to managers and company owners, officials said all workers were to "subject themselves to medical screening for Covid-19", or face a fine and possible legal action for repeated delays.

The department regulates businesses across the emirate that are not located in free zones.

“This came after noting that some companies’ owners did not commit to sending their workers for medical testing to ensure that they are not infected with the virus,” said Rashed Al Balooshi, undersecretary at the department.

Drive-through clinics have been built and medical staff drafted in from private hospitals to make mass testing possible in recent weeks.

The country has carried out temperature checks, nasal swabs and basic blood tests on as many as 35,000 UAE residents per day.

Inspectors from the department have the authority to issue fines, Mr Al Balooshi said, citing a law passed by Attorney General Dr Hamad Al Shamsi to enforce testing.

Anyone who refused to be tested for the virus would be subject to a Dh5,000 fine in the first instance.

The penalty would be doubled if a test was refused again and any business or employee that committed the offence for a third time would be referred for prosecution.

They may also be made to pay the costs associated with closing the “violating facility for a period not exceeding six months", which could be extended, according to a statement on Wam.

Last week, the department said it was in talks with mall operators and retailers to "explore options as part of a staggered series of reopenings across key sectors".

It would give the public "more options to purchase products they may need, in addition to e-commerce, and to support local retailers and businesses", the department said.

But mall operators and retailers would have to introduce a series of measures designed to protect staff and the public from the risk of infection.

Retailers were required to ensure staff were tested before they could return to work in malls.

Across the UAE, shops can only be at up to 30 per cent of capacity at any time.

Anyone with a temperature of more than 38°C and people aged over 60 would be barred from entering.

In addition to being screened for the virus before they returned to work, all staff would have their temperatures checked each time they entered the mall.

They would also have their temperature checked regularly throughout the day.

Stores would be sanitised regularly and there would be a ban on refunds and exchanges.