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Fighting coronavirus: Abu Dhabi school bus drivers to be tested for Covid-19 every two weeks

Abu Dhabi - Supervisors must also check a student's temperature before boarding the bus.

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School bus drivers and supervisors must have Covid-19 negative test results every two weeks, the local authorities said in the latest precautionary guidelines for school transportation in Abu Dhabi.

.@AbuDhabiDMT through @ITCAbuDhabi announces precautionary measures to be followed by the school transportation sector, as well as students, guardians and parents for the new academic year, to protect students' health and safety. pic.twitter.com/xuslH2lq4E
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Ahead of the school reopening on Sunday, August 30, the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi through Integrated Transport Centre in Abu Dhabi announced the precautionary measures to be followed by the school transportation sector, students, guardians and parents for the new academic year.
These measures include conducting regular Covid-19 testing for drivers and supervisors, ensuring that buses are equipped with thermometers, hand sanitisers, face masks and gloves, observing physical distancing, conducting awareness programmes and increasing the number of buses.
What supervisors, operators must do
Supervisors must check every student's temperature before boarding the bus. Any student showing Covid-19 symptoms must not be allowed to board the bus. Supervisors should inform their manager, in case they doubt any suspected cases. To ensure safe distancing, every second seat in the bus will need to be left vacant. All frequently-touched surfaces need to be sterlised. Bus operators need to train drivers and supervisors to implement these new norms.
Measures for students and schools
All students above the age six must wear masks, they should avoid shaking hands with others, inform supervisor or driver of any Covid-19 symptoms and sanitise hands while entering and exiting the bus.
On their part, schools must ensure supervisors and drivers are infection free, their temperatures checked daily and Covid-19 tests performed every two weeks.
As buses are set to operate at 50 per cent capacity, the schools will be required to deploy more number of buses or increase the number of trips.
Schools will in turn also conduct awareness workshops for students. Additionally, schools must also ask parents to sign a pledge agreeing to inform children about the virus.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com