Abu Dhabi issues new rules for Covid-19 testing and quarantine of government employees

All Abu Dhabi government employees who are present on-site within their workplaces must undertake regular Covid-19 PCR tests, the cost of which will be borne by themselves.

In a tweet sent out on Tuesday, the Human Resources Authority in Abu Dhabi said that the rule is applicable to everyone irrespective of whether or not they have received the Covid-19 vaccine.

دورية فحص مسحة الأنف لموظفي الجهات والشركات الحكومية pic.twitter.com/CzOwwJ4S7L

— هيئة الموارد البشرية (@AbuDhabiHRA) March 9, 2021

However, those who have received the vaccine and have completed 28 days since receiving their second dose, can repeat the PCR tests once a month. For those who haven’t been vaccinated, they must do so every seven days.

The only exceptions to the rule are employees who have an active gold star or letter E icons on their Al Hosn app and have participated in the national vaccination programme or volunteered in clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines.

For employees of companies who have contracts with Abu Dhabi government entities and companies and who are required to enter the government facilities temporarily to attend a meeting or perform a task within the premises, they too must obtain a negative PCR test result, not older than 3 days.

Quarantine period
The human resources authority said that government employees who have returned from outside the country or who have been in contact with a person infected with Covid-19, can apply for work from home until their quarantine period ends – provided that they have already received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

However, for those who have not received the two doses of the vaccine, the quarantine period is deducted from their annual leave. If they do not have enough annual leave, it will be considered as leave without pay. They are not eligible for the remote working facility during their quarantine period.

معلومات للموظفين المخالطين/العائدين من خارج الدولة العاملين في الجهات والشركات الحكومية pic.twitter.com/ksWA9uF5rs

— هيئة الموارد البشرية (@AbuDhabiHRA) March 9, 2021

The health authority reiterated the rule issued in February which mandated that workplace strength of Abu Dhabi government and semi-government entities has been reduced to 30 per cent of its capacity.

المتعاملين والزائرين لمقار الجهات والشركات الحكومية pic.twitter.com/B7zS7Vi7u4

— هيئة الموارد البشرية (@AbuDhabiHRA) March 9, 2021

All customers and visitors to government entities in the emirate must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test not older than 3 days.

Read: Abu Dhabi govt, semi-govt entities to reduce workplace strength to 30%

It said that remote work will be available for pregnant and nursing mothers, employees above the age of 60, instances where one of either employed parent has a child enrolled in distance learning and who are studying in grade 10 and below, employees with chronic diseases and compromised immunities and any other jobs that can be fully delivered from outside the workplace.

فئات الموظفين الذين يشملهم العمل عن بُعد pic.twitter.com/ADbqhSN9BD

— هيئة الموارد البشرية (@AbuDhabiHRA) March 9, 2021