In this regard, Shaima Al-Awadhi, Director of HR Information System Department at the Authority, explained that the virtual workshop was well received from Federal Government employees, and followed by more than 2,700 employees from various ministries and federal entities. The workshop also explained the most important points in Circular No. (4) of 2021 for 2021, recently issued as part of the efforts being made to limit the repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic on the government sector.

“The workshop presented by Sheikha Al Kaabi, Chief Programmer, HR Information Management System, focused on introducing the participants to the mechanism for registering employees infected with COVID-19, contacts and vaccination recipients in Bayanati self-service system,” she noted.

Registering employees infected with COVID-19, contacts and vaccination recipients via Application FAHR

Shaima Al-Awadhi indicated that the Authority's work team is intensifying its efforts at the present time to register people with COVID-19, contacts and those who have been vaccinated via the Authority's smart application (FAHR), noting that the service is expected to be available through the application to all employees within a few days.

She stressed the need for the Federal Government employees infected with COVID-19, contacts, or who received vaccination, whether one dose or two doses, to follow the procedures contained in the electronic mechanism for registering COVID-19 patients in the Bayanati System. HR departments in the federal entities must follow up on the commitment of their employees to this mechanism, and to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the information entered.

Hamad Ali Buamim, Director of Policies and Legal Affairs Department at the Authority, confirmed that the Authority’s team responded to all legal and technical inquiries received from the employees participating in the workshop, concerning the Authority’s Circular No. (4) of 2021, regarding the measures during quarantine period for a Federal Government employee with Coronavirus or having contacted with patients.

He referred to the point in the circular stressing that an employee who did not receive the two doses of COVID-19 vaccine must undergo a nasal swab test (every 7 days to protect himself and his family members from coronavirus disease.

Director of Policies and Legal Affairs said: “According to the circular, an employee who is affected by coronavirus, shows symptoms or tests positive through approved treatment and quarantine measures prescribed by the competent health authorities and in accordance with the following procedures:

“If the employee has received the two vaccine doses, the quarantine period (as per time frames specified by the competent health authorities in the country) will be treated as remote work in accordance with the rules established in this regard.

“If the employee did not receive the two vaccine doses, then the quarantine period shall be deducted from his leave balance, if any, otherwise, the period will be considered unpaid leave, and the employee will perform any tasks assigned to him by his employer during the quarantine period if the work interest so requires.”

Buamim called on all employees must adhere to the precautionary measures issued by the competent authorities in the country to prevent the spread of the pandemic.   The federal entities must monitor the commitment of violation committees to implement the guideline for employees who breach the precautionary measures.

The Authority has urged the federal entities to provide a weekly report on the number of employees infected with the pandemic, who came to direct contact with infected and who received COVID-19 vaccine, one or two doses.