Vaccinated Abu Dhabi government employees must take monthly PCR tests

Employees must also bear the cost of the PCR tests under the new rules

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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.