Abu Dhabi schools with high vaccination can relax rules

Blue Schools Initiative offers relief on masks, social distancing and classroom capacity

Schools in Abu Dhabi with high vaccination rates will be able to relax Covid-19 protocols from the next term under the Blue Schools Initiative announced by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee yesterday.

Higher vaccinated schools will be allowed reduced social distancing, relaxed maskwearing protocols, increased classroom and school transport capacity, and a return to extra-curricular activities, inschool events and field trips.

The colour-coded system will classify schools with over 85 per cent of students vaccinated as ‘Blue’; schools with 65-84 per cent of students vaccinated will be ‘Green’, those with 50-60 per cent vaccinated will be ‘Yellow’, while those with less than 50 per cent of students vaccinated will be classified ‘Orange’.

Free vaccines for kids

Free vaccines are available for children at centres across Abu Dhabi. The Blue School initiative follows a mandated testing protocol at schools.

Unvaccinated children aged over 12 years have to take a weekly PCR test compared with monthly tests for other students. Vaccination is mandatory for children aged 16 years or older who wish to attend classes in person.