Civil Service Bureau: mandatory weekly Rapid Antigen Tests for employees at workplaces

Civil Service Bureau (CSB) President Ahmed bin Zayed Al Zayed issued civil service directives (4) of 2021, regarding the application of the work-from-home policy and the mandatory periodic Rapid Antigen Tests for government employees at workplaces.
 
The mandatory directives are based on the decisions of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating COVID-19, approved by the Executive Committee in support of Bahrain’s efforts to curb the pandemic.
 
Under the civil service directives, Government bodies are required to apply the work-from-home policy to cover 70% of public employees, effective from May 27 until June 10.
 
The measure does not apply to vital Government jobs that provide health, electricity, water, civil aviation affairs, sanitation and other necessary services.
 
 The mandatory Rapid Antigen Tests will be carried out on a weekly basis for Government employees at their workplaces and those who are contracted by the government bodies.
 
Employees who have a negative Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (PCR) no older than (48) hours from the time of conducting the test, through BeAware Bahrain application, are exempted.
 
Government bodies are required to coordinate with the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) to provide Rapid Antigens Test devices according to the number of employees present at the workplace.
 
The directorates of human resources are required to coordinate to ensure their employees at the workplace undergo the Rapid Antigens Tests on a weekly basis.
 
In the event that one of the employees tests positive to the virus, he/she must immediately report his / her case and take the necessary measures in accordance with the guidelines in force set by the competent authorities and inform the direct superior.
 
Government bodies are also required to prepare lists of employees' names and the results of their Rapid Antigens Tests and send them to the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) at the end of the week.