Dear students and colleagues,
I am writing to inform you that the University of Cape Town (UCT) is making plans to invite sixth-year medical students to participate in a controlled return to campus. Their return will be voluntary and will need to take place before 31 May 2020 – the deadline set by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, for final-year clinical training students to travel back to their university programmes. Details of the controlled return of these students are being finalised and will be communicated to them in due course by the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Department of Student Affairs.
Students who accept the offer to return to their clinical training will be required to comply with a number of safety conditions as required by the government and UCT. One of these is that all returning students must enter a 14-day self-quarantine period on arrival to their rooms in residence, or their private accommodation. They will also need to follow protocols for good public health practice.
We want to stress that students may choose not to return at this time. For instance, some students may be immunosuppressed and so are at high risk of infection. Arrangements will be made for these students to complete their degree at a later date.
The return of these students to their programme of study will involve careful planning and thorough consultation to ensure the safety of all who are involved. We are mindful of the government restrictions under Level Four lockdown and we do not take the risk of exposure to COVID-19 lightly. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be issued to students as well as to staff members in residences and in the Faculty of Health Sciences. We are working in consultation with labour unions and taking every possible precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who will be involved.
I would like to thank the colleagues in the different departments who are involved in planning the return of these medical students to campus. They include members of the executive, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Loretta Feris and Chief Operating Officer Dr Reno Morar; the Faculty of Health Sciences, led by the Dean, Associate Professor Lionel Green-Thompson; the Department of Student Affairs, headed by Dr Moonira Khan; and the Properties & Services Department, headed by Mr Mughtar Parker.
With kind regards,
Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice-Chancellor
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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.