Covid-19: UAE government employees to undertake paid PCR test every 14 days

The UAE government has announced that employees of all ministries and federal entities are required to undertake a mandatory Covid-19 PCR test every 14 days starting January 17, 2021.

In a circular issued on Tuesday, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources said that all employees of ministries and federal entities are to get tested at their own expense.

Employees who provide a medical report exempting them from taking the vaccine due to an illness or a health condition need not pay for their own tests. In such cases, the employer should cover the costs of the nasal swab test every 14 days.

Also, those who have taken the Covid-19 vaccine are exempt from the new regulations, the circular added.

إجراءات جديدة تساعد في التصدي لجائحة #كوفيد_19 على مستوى الحكومة الاتحادية، على أن يتم العمل بها اعتباراً من تاريخ 17 يناير 2021، حيث يتعين على موظفي #الحكومة_الاتحادية إجراء فحص مسحة الأنف (PCR) كل 14 يوماً.https://t.co/CtuJCAvCKx pic.twitter.com/bxIOBSMbsk

— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) January 5, 2021

The department said the decision was part of the government’s efforts to limit the spread of the virus, protect the employees, and keep work environments safe.

The 14-day rule also applies to employees of outsourced and public services companies who are employed on a full-time basis, reported news agency WAM.

Employees from advisory and expert services companies that deal with government bodies on a one-off basis will need to present a negative PCR test no more than three days old.

In its Circular No. 02 of 2021, the federal authority stated that the Covid-19 vaccine is available for free in all government health centres across all the country, as well as in a number of private hospitals.

It also requested all federal ministries and entities to encourage their employees to get inoculated, especially those with chronic diseases and senior citizens.