Schools, colleges, offices should alert govt on coronavirus cases
If it is proven that the person has this disease, the director must inform the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the competent health department immediately
The Federal Public Prosecution has clarified that it was obligatory on the principal of an educational institution or the manager of an establishment to inform the health authorities if a student or worker was found infected with a communicable disease such as COVID-19.
In a video post published on its accounts on social media (uae_pp@), the Public Prosecution invoked Article 12 of the Federal Law No 14 of 2014 concerning Prevention of Communicable Diseases which stipulates: “If a director of an educational institution or any other facility suspects any student or employee has been infected with a communicable disease, he must refer the suspected person to the specialist doctor for examination and provide him with a report stating his/her disease. If it is proven that the person has this disease, the director must inform the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the competent health department immediately and take the appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the disease.”
“The director, the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the competent health department must isolate the infected person and his contacts or put them under quarantine, whether by preventing them from entering the facility or by using any other means to prevent them from coming in contact with others during the period stated in Table 2 enclosed with this law, or those determined by the department under the ministry,” the article states.
The article also says that the director was within his rights to refuse entry to the infected person into the facility until he or she had fulfilled all conditions determined by the ministry or the health department.
Earlier, two young men had been arrested for violating COVID-19 precautionary measures.
The men are being investigated for roaming in a public area ater one tested positive for COVID-19, and for sharing the video of them violating precautionary measures on social media.
In a statement, the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution said the men are investigated on charges of “endangering the health of others and violating the preventive measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”
In a video clip which was shared online, one of the defendants appears to be wandering in a public place ater revealing his positive test result on his mobile phone. The second filmed the incident and posted it on social media.
Ater monitoring the video clip, officials were able to identify the defendants and made the arrests in accordance with legally established procedures.
The Public Prosecution said firm action would be taken against those who behave in a way which disregards the health and safety of others or neglect to adhere to the precautionary measures set to curb the spread of the virus.
It added that every individual who learns of their positive status, or have come in contact with an infected person, should fully comply with all instructions and procedures set by authorities to avoid legal penalties.
Article 33 of Federal Law No. 14 of 2014 on Combating Communicable Diseases lists a guideline for people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 who must comply with preventive measures and restrictions. Under Article 38 of the Federal Law No 14 of 2014, violators can face a jail sentence and a fine between Dhs10,000 and Dhs50,000.
Furthermore, Article 348 of the Federal Penal Code stipulates that “whoever deliberately perpetrates an act that exposes the life, health, security or freedom of human beings to danger,” will face either detention or pay a fine.
Recently, the UAE Public Prosecution has stated that under Article No.7 of the Federal Decree Law No. 5 for 2012 on combating cybercrimes, whosoever obtains, possesses, modifies, destroys or discloses data or information contained in any electronic document related to medical examinations, medical diagnosis, medical treatment or care, and medical records without authorisation will be punished with temporary imprisonment.
The Public Prosecution published this announcement in a legal tweet on its social media account, as part of its ongoing campaign to promote the legal culture among members of the community, and raise awareness of the law and related legal issues and decrease violations.