COVID-19 on Campus: How UCT responds to positive cases

UCT’s response to positive cases

The Properties and & Services department at the University of Cape Town has a protocol for disinfecting facilities where COVID-19 cases have been identified, and this is done on an ongoing basis.

Whenever a UCT student or staff member has been confirmed as testing positive for COVID-19, the university has responded with the following actions:

• In each case, the dean of the affected faculty communicated to other members of the faculty.
• Contact tracing began immediately to identify people with whom they were in close contact.
• Members of the university community who have been in close contact with these staff members or student have been instructed to remain in quarantine for 14 days while being monitored for symptoms.
• We are working with provincial and national agencies to establish appropriate quarantine facilities for asymptomatic people.
• Any case where a person is symptomatic will be dealt with via the provincial and national guidelines and protocols.
• All buildings frequented by UCT students and staff that have tested positive for COVID-19 have been identified, closed immediately and disinfected.

We wish a speedy recovery to the affected colleagues, and strength to all during their self-isolation or quarantine periods.

Quarantine or isolation?

UCT uses the following terms as prescribed by national health authorities: “quarantine” is a term used to describe people who are asymptomatic and who are restricting their movement because they have been in close contact with an infected person; “isolation” refers to people who have symptoms and may be required to be hospitalised, depending on the severity of their illness.