Thousands of UAE residents have returned to workplaces this week as Covid-19 safety measures are eased. After weeks spent carrying out their duties from their own homes, staff are gradually making their way back to offices and factories. People have hopped on Metros and buses, got on their bikes, jumped in cars and strolled to work as a semblance of routine returned to lives after a period of uncertainty prompted by the surge of the pandemic. Authorities have set out strict guidelines to ensure staff can resume their normal working practices safely. While many are clocking in once more, it isn't quite business as usual as efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19 continue. Staff are obligated to wear masks and physical distancing practices remain in place. Up to half of staff at Dubai companies are now permitted to operate from their places of work. Dubai Economy said last week that 50 per cent of employees could be in an office at any time, up from 30 previously. The regulator said shops and retailers could have 70 per cent of staff on duty, also up from 30 per cent. Officials repeated the need for masks to be worn indoors and employees' workstations to be two metres apart. A document titled Reopening Dubai repeated the announcement by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, that gyms, cinemas and other entertainment venues could reopen with restrictions. All Dubai government employees will return to their workplaces on June 14, Sheikh Hamdan has said. In Abu Dhabi, up to 30 per cent of private sector workers and 35 per cent of federal government staff can now return to work venues. This week, the Abu Dhabi government laid out a raft of measures to keep federal workers safe while at work, including the mandatory use of face masks and gloves, the closure of prayer rooms and communal areas and a ban on handshakes. Glass barriers should be installed to separate employees and customers and people should remain two metres apart from others at all times. Before leaving home, Abu Dhabi government employees should check their temperatures and travel in their own car, avoiding public transportation where possible. Once they arrive at work they will have their temperature taken and a QR (quick response) code scanned on their phone.
