Dear students and colleagues
This campus announcement aims to inform the University of Cape Town community about recent developments around the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other updates on campus.
1. Update on UCT COVID-19 cases
UCT has not received reports of any new positive COVID-19 cases since the last weekly update was issued on 8 April 2020. Since the first reported infection a month ago, the university has had seven cases of COVID-19 – four staff members and three students (including one student who has recovered).
2. Cell C and Telkom zero rating
The university is very pleased to announce that Cell C and Telkom have both agreed to the request to zero-rate access to certain UCT websites. UCT has called on the remaining two cellphone providers to support this call, which comes not just from UCT but from across the higher education sector.
3. Gratitude to UCT community for dedication and hard work
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi has expressed gratitude to all members of the UCT community for adapting and working under a new demanding and different reality – the national lockdown.
Professor Phakeng reiterated the commitment of the executive and the Leadership Lekgotla (comprising the deans and executive directors) to do all that is practically possible to steer the institution through this difficult and uncertain time.
Staff and students were encouraged to take responsibility for their own wellness and for those around them, and to seek help when needed. Support services are available to staff and students even while off campus.
4. COVID-19 video messages from the Department of Medicine
The Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital have produced educational video material for use on digital platforms and in multiple languages. The information contained in these videos is authenticated and endorsed by the team of experts based in the Department of Medicine. Many of the recommendations are based on current best evidence and are aligned to provincial, national and international guidelines.
5. ICTS scheduled maintenance
Please note that on Sunday,19 April the Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) will carry out scheduled maintenance from 09:00 until 17:00. Unless advised to the contrary, do not expect any ICT services to be available for the duration of the maintenance slot. Please remember to consult the scheduled ICTS maintenance slots for 2020 before planning any activities that require ICT services.
6. Second part of HSRC COVID-19 survey
The Human Sciences Research Council launched a public survey about COVID-19 on Friday, 27 March 2020. The second wave of the survey is currently being conducted. It commenced on Thursday, 9 April and will run until Sunday, 19 April. The second part includes telephonic qualitative questions which will provide deeper responses from respondents, particularly those with minimal internet access.
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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.
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 PhakengWith 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.
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.