UAE updates quarantine rules for federal government employees

Quarantining rules for UAE federal government employees have been revised, authorities have announced.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has issued a circular to all ministries and federal entities regarding the quarantine period for employees who have either been infected with Covid-19 or were in contact with someone who tested positive.

Circular No. 04 of 2021 stipulates that federal government employees who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and have still contracted the virus or come into contact with someone who tested positive, will require to quarantine and work remotely for a period of time specified by local health authorities.

Furthermore, employees who have not taken the two vaccine doses and contracted the virus or have come into contact with someone who tested positive, will also require to quarantine, with the days deducted from their annual leave. For those who do not have sufficient annual leave will complete their quarantine period as unpaid leave. However, those employees will still be expected to meet any work requirements assigned to them during the sequestering period.

الهيئة تصدر تعميماً لكافة الوزارات والجهات الاتحادية بشأن حكم فترة الحجر الصحي لموظفي #الحكومة_الاتحادية المصابين بــ #كوفيد_19 أو المخالطين
للاطلاع على التعميم من خلال الرابط: https://t.co/q2OIcf10bJ pic.twitter.com/IRiMIyIILd

— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) January 27, 2021

Meanwhile, employees who tested positive, been in contact with someone infected, or taken either the first or second dose of the vaccine, will require to record their health status on the federal government’s human resource management system (Bayanati). The aforementioned system has been updated to allow employees to log in data and manage all Covid-19-related requests.

FAHR has urged federal government employees to adhere to precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and for federal entities to ensure that guidelines are being enforced. All federal bodies are to submit a weekly report on the status of their employees (numbers infected, those who have come into contact with a positive case, and those vaccinated), it added.

FAHR announced that it will host a virtual workshop for employees on February 1, to further clarify the electronic requirements mentioned in the circular.

In a directive issued last week, UAE federal government employees are expected to undergo a PCR Covid-19 test at their own expense every 7 days.

Read: UAE federal government employees to undergo Covid-19 PCR test every 7 days

Those who are exempt from this rule include employees who have taken both the doses of the vaccine and also those who provide a medical report exempting them from taking the vaccine due to an illness or a health condition.

The UAE recorded its highest daily rise of new cases – equalling 3,601 – on January 26. The case count and death toll have crossed 285,000 and 800 respectively.

Read more: Covid-19 update: UAE reports 3,601 cases, highest daily rise in infections; death toll crosses 800