Latest: Dubai resident with long Covid tells of struggle to breathe 12 months on
All Abu Dhabi government employees who are fully vaccinated must pay to take a monthly PCR test under new rules.
The test must be performed every 28 days after they receive their second dose of the vaccine, authorities said.
Only those who have the letter E displayed in their Al Hosn app, which can be obtained by performing weekly PCR tests, are exempt from the test.
“Employees who have received the Covid-19 vaccine are obliged to take a PCR test every month (every 28 days since the second dose),” said the guidelines released by the Human Resources Authority and the Department of Government Support.
“Employees bear the cost of the test.
“Employees vaccinated within the national vaccination programmes, and volunteers in clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines who have the active icon (letter E) on Alhosn app [are exempt from the test]”.
Government employees who are not fully vaccinated must pay to take a PCR test every seven days, as was previously the case.
This includes people who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine; those who have received two doses but have not yet completed the 28 day-period waiting for the full effectiveness to kick in; and those who have a medical certificate exempting them from taking it.
Any employee who needs temporary entry to the office for a meeting or other tasks must have a negative Covid-19 result from the past three days.
Most Abu Dhabi government employees have been working from home since the start of February.
Workplaces are currently operating with 30 per cent attendance, with the remainder of staff working remotely.
People who work for semi-government run companies and authorities follow the same measures.
The decision is similar to measures rolled out last year to help to drive down cases.
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
