UAE education: Onus on principals to inform health ministry of Covid-19 infections among employees, students

The principal of educational institutions, or the directors of these facilities, must inform the health authorities if a student or employee is found infected with a communicable disease such as Covid-19.

In a tweet sent out recently, the Federal Public Prosecution said that it was obligatory to do so according to Article 12 of the Federal Law No 14 of 2014 concerning Prevention of Communicable Diseases.

If the director of the educational institution suspects a student or employee to be infected with a communicable disease, they must refer that person to a specialist doctor for examination.

التزامات مدير المؤسسة التعليمية و غيرها من المنشآت في حالة حدوث إصابة بمرض من الامراض السارية لدى أي من الطلاب أو العاملين بالمنشأة #نلتزم_لننتصر #متّحدين_ومتحدّين#ملتزمون_ياوطن#الامارات #الامارات_العربية_المتحدة #النيابة_العامة_الاتحادية pic.twitter.com/PekXcE4UNu

— النيابة العامة (@UAE_PP) February 19, 2021

If it is proven that the person does have the disease, the director must inform the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the competent health department immediately and take the appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

The provisions of that law further states: “The director, the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the competent health department must isolate the infected person and his contacts or put them under quarantine, whether by preventing them from entering the facility or by using any other means to prevent them from coming in contact with others during the period stated in Table 2 enclosed with this law, or those determined by the department under the ministry.”

Read: Fine of up to Dhs50,000 for not informing health authorities about Covid-19 in UAE

The UAE’s Ministry of Education has already directed educational authorities in four emirates – Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman – to shift all students in schools and nurseries to 100 per cent e-learning as a measure to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Students aged 12 and above at private schools in Abu Dhabi meanwhile need to undergo a compulsory Covid-19 PCR test, when they are to return to in-campus learning, the capital’s education regulator has confirmed.

Read: Free mandatory Covid-19 PCR tests for students returning to school in Abu Dhabi