COVID-19 guidelines for operating children’s nurseries in the emirate of Abu Dhabi have been updated by the concerned authorities.
Mariam Al Hallami, Division Director of the Early Childhood Education at the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge said on June 21 that the nurseries play a crucial role in shaping children’s futures through building their skills, social and intellectual abilities. She further said that nurseries also supported parents’ careers and during the pandemic, parents, their employers, and nursery operators needed to work together in ensuring necessary care for children.
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She lauded the support of the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee including vaccinating over 77 percent of nurseries’ staff, who ensure a safe environment for the children under their care.
Meanwhile, the updated rules, which come into effect from July 1, 2021, include: increasing the number of children within each ‘bubble’, up from 8 to 12 for children aged 45 days to two years, and up from 10 to 16 for children aged 2-4 years; closing a bubble for 10 days — but not the whole nursery – in a reported positive case; closing the entire nursery for 10 days if three or more bubbles are infected: ensuring distance of 3.5sqm per child in each classroom, and 5 sqm in open areas.
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The updated requirements, approved by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee, came about after a consistently low infection rate being reported from nurseries.
The operating procedures will also include: conducting regular inspections to ensure implementation of health procedures: mandatory training for staff on COVID-19 protocols; having a health and safety officer and nurse in every nursery to check the daily temperature of children, educators and staff. (AW)
