A senior Abu Dhabi health official is urging UAE residents travelling for the Eid Al Fitr break to take a Covid-19 test after arriving back in the country.
Dr Shereena Al Mazrouei, department manager of health promotion at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, told The National that although it was not mandatory, this was good practice particularly if people lived with an elderly or high-risk family member.
Residents are getting ready to enjoy the first Eid break without major coronavirus restrictions since 2019, but Dr Al Mazrouei said the virus was still around and major gatherings still represented a challenge.
"We know this is a long Eid break," Dr Al Mazrouei said. "People may travel, go to the mall or go to an event – especially those who have been isolated for so long. But we should not disregard the ability of people who are coming from abroad or an event to bring the infection.
"We would recommend that people traveling do a PCR and at least keep a physical distance of one meter from others for a few days.”
Eid preparations around the world
Dr Al Mazrouei also recommended limiting social gatherings to family members and urged people to wear a mask and keep a distance of at least a metre while around elderly and high-risk family members.
Case numbers have been declining in the UAE and authorities have lifted many Covid-19 rules. Abu Dhabi on Thursday lifted all capacity limits at malls and events and extended the validity of a PCR test on the Al Hosn smartphone app to 30 days. But it is still mandatory to wear a mask indoors across the UAE.
“The number of cases is ... at a low level and we're hoping for this number to keep on decreasing and that the infection rate becomes less,” she said.
Public sector workers will have a full week's holiday to celebrate Eid Al Fitr.
Private sector employees will enjoy a holiday from Ramadan 29 – Saturday, April 30 – until Shawwal 3, either Tuesday, May 3, or Wednesday, May 4, depending on the sighting of the Moon.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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