Fighting coronavirus: UAE nurseries may reopen on October 4, with strict safety measures

Dubai - Covid-19 screenings will also be carried out.

Nurseries in the UAE may resume their operations in October, provided that they abide by regulations and implement all reopening conditions.
October 4 had been set as the tentative date for reopening, according to a joint circular issued by education authorities across the country. It was stamped by the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA).
The circular that was shared with all nurseries stated: "It has been decided to reopen nurseries on the fourth of October 2020 in accordance with strict control and preventive measures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19)."
Soon after it was circulated, an updated statement was issued underlining "that the date of reopening the nursery will depend on the abidance to and the implementation of all the conditions and requirements mentioned in the previous circular".
Nursery owners, managers, teachers and all other staff wasted no time and started preparations right away.
A series of health and safety trainings will be held for teachers and staff. Covid-19 screenings will also be carried out.
Zeena Assam, head of Creative Nest Nursery, said: "Leaders are supposed to undergo three trainings for two hours each, whereas, teachers will have to undergo two training programmes. Since it's being offered free to anyone who wants to avail of it, we are encouraging our other team members to equip themselves with these trainings as well."
In addition to daily sanitisation and deep cleaning of the facility, nurseries are busy ensuring that staff, faculty and parents understand their "shared responsibility" in safeguarding their children in respective 'bubbles'.
Reena Dhamecha, managing director at Building Blocks Nursery, said: "Since nurseries have younger children, we cannot use a one-size fits all approach. With this in mind, we are creating a 'system of controls' manual which consists of a set of principles and protocols for every single possible scenario."
Other nurseries are building 'small pods' for children, all of which will have separate entrances, routine health checks and periodic safety drills.
Nursery staff members were all upbeat about redesigning and customising venues according to the protocols.
Siog Moore, who runs Little Land Nursery in Dubai, said: "We are really excited to get back to work with the children. We have developed our plans based on our past experience with managing infections and the advice printed by the MoE and KHDA. We have also taken account of experience from Europe. We will always be learning."
nandini@khaleejtimes.com