Ban on high-fives among Covid checklist for all Dubai parents


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Pupils must disinfect books, smart devices and lunch boxes every day at school, Dubai's government has said.

A ban on high-fives, sharing food and spreading rumours about Covid-19 are also some of the measures in place to protect youngsters from contagion.

Dubai Health Authority has reissued guidance to parents, children and teachers as numbers of new cases soared two weeks after pupils went back to school following a six-month break.

Dr Hend Al Awadhi, head of health promotion and education at the DHA, said children needed to be reminded of the threats to public health.

Parents should put in place a daily sanitisation routine with cloth masks washed daily

"While school-going kids have settled into the new normal, it is important to speak with children regularly so parents can notice if a child has settled in well or is experiencing any uneasiness or anxiety," she said.

"Parents should put in place a daily sanitisation routine with cloth masks washed daily.

"If the mask has a filter, it should be removed and reinserted after the mask is dry.

"The filter should be changed every ten days."

Everyday equipment such as schools books, smart devices, lunch boxes and bags must be sanitised every day, and masks must be worn at all times once pupils have left home.

Children were told to clean pens, glasses and headphones with a 60 per cent alcohol solution to guard against the virus while sitting together with groups of friends is also now banned.

Pupils arriving at the school gates are encouraged not to make physical contact with friends and avoid the classroom altogether if experiencing any signs of the virus such as fever, cough or loss of taste or smell.

Daily coronavirus cases climbed past 1,000 on Saturday to hit levels not recorded since May.

That figure was pegged back to 640 on Sunday, with positive results taken from 84,642 tests. No further deaths were reported.

Classrooms opened to face-to-face teaching for thousands of pupils on August 30.

Many children across the UAE have not been in school since March.

Dr Al Awadhi said parents had a duty to educate youngsters on the importance of hygiene and physical distancing outside of the home.

"Parents must educate children into following safety instructions to protect their health and the health of their family members," she said.

"This will also keep their fellow school friends, teachers and staff at the school healthy," said Dr Al Awadhi.

"Physical distancing is one of the most basic elements in protecting children, their classmates and their family.

"All house members, including house help, should ensure they adhere to all precautionary measures at all times."

Dos

  • Greet others without any contact
  • Wash or sanitise your hands frequently
  • Wear your mask the entire time you are at school. Put cloth masks in a pouch when you eat your snack or lunch. If you use a disposable mask, dispose of it correctly and use a new one after eating your food
  • Maintain physical distancing
  • Bring your own food from home
  • Stay home if you have any respiratory symptoms
  • Clean and disinfect your desk

Don’ts

  • Handshakes and high-fives
  • Share food with others
  • Share your mask with others
  • Sit with a big group of friends
  • Touch your eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands
  • Throw your mask in undesignated places
  • Exchange books and stationary
  • Spread rumours about Covid-19

The personal items most susceptible to contamination are:

  • School bag
  • Lunch box
  • Headphones
  • Pen and notebook
  • Smart devices
  • Glasses
  • Children's toys
MATCH INFO

Iceland 0 England 1 (Sterling pen 90 1)

Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000