Update on the novel coronavirus outbreak

05 February 2020 | From Kgethi

Dear colleagues and students

The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which emerged last month, was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) late last week. With students and staff due to return to the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) classrooms for the beginning of the academic year, the university is monitoring reports of the spread of this disease. Since the beginning of 2020 the world has been on alert following the outbreak, which was identified as originating in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, China, and has already claimed the lives of over 400 people.

On Thursday, 30 January, the WHO declared that the 2019-nCoV outbreak now constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. South Africa is seen as a relatively low-risk area and to date no cases have been reported within the country.

However, with 23 countries outside of China having reported cases, the National Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Johannesburg are on high alert. They have stated that they are adequately prepared for active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing, and prevention of onward spread.

The South African government has not imposed any restrictions on travel and trade but has advised that travel to Wuhan or Hubei should be avoided or postponed. Screening at airports and other ports of entry has intensified.

The safety and well-being of students and staff remains our top concern at UCT. We have communicated with students from the most affected regions and have asked them to provide us with details about their circumstances and travel plans. In line with advice from the Chinese government, students still in China have been asked to delay their travels, and we are considering options for academic registration for affected students.

Visitors from affected regions are also being asked to postpone their travels until international health authorities consider the risk to be under control. We advise staff and students to avoid travelling to China for the time being. However, all travellers should avoid close contact with people who display symptoms similar to those of respiratory tract infections or the common cold, such as coughing or runny noses. Travellers should clean their hands regularly with an alcohol-based rub or soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. If you must travel to China, steer clear of live animals.

Any students or staff who develop a cough, a sore throat or shortness of breath within 14 days of travelling to China are urged to seek immediate medical attention. Additional symptoms may include feeling tired and a high temperature.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely to better understand the relative risks and the extent of the virus’s spread.

2019-CoV is spread via droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. Staff and students are reminded to follow basic hygiene measures to halt its spread:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze (catch it, bin it, kill it).
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Regularly clean commonly used surfaces and devices that you touch or handle.

The Student Wellness Service (SWS) is in contact with the NICD, which is working with the Western Cape Department of Health and Cape Town International Airport. The DSA SWS Communicable Diseases Guidelines were specifically compiled for UCT students and shared with residences in 2019. The DSA also has a Communicable Diseases Working Group that will be activated if necessary.

Students who require further information or have questions about 2019-nCoV should contact SWS: sws@uct.ac.za, 021 650 1020/5620 (week days) or 021 650 1271 (weekends and after hours).

To read more on the virus and news on the South African situation, visit the NICD website. To keep up to date with news on the disease, visit the WHO website for situation reports.


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UCT’s response to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.

Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.

In July 2022, the University of Cape Town (UCT) revised its approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic on UCT campuses in 2022.
Read the latest document available on the UCT policies web page.

 

Campus communications

 
2022

Adjusting to our new environment 16:50, 23 June 2022
VC Open Lecture and other updates 17:04, 13 April 2022
Feedback from UCT Council meeting of 12 March 2022 09:45, 18 March 2022
UCT Council
March 2022 graduation celebration 16:45, 8 March 2022
Report on the meeting of UCT Council of 21 February 2022 19:30, 21 February 2022
UCT Council
COVID-19 management 2022 11:55, 14 February 2022
Return to campus arrangements 2022 11:15, 4 February 2022

UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre

On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.

 

“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.


Thank You UCT Community

Frequently asked questions

 

Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?

UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.



If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.

IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
 

 

“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.

 

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