COVID-19 updates and other developments

06 May 2020 | Campus Announcement

Dear colleagues

This campus announcement aims to inform the UCT community about recent Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) updates and other developments on campus.

1. Weekly update on UCT COVID-19 cases

UCT has had one new positive COVID-19 case reported since the last weekly update was issued on 30 April. The staff member is attached to a department that has been working remotely for at least the past six weeks. The relevant line managers are providing support.

The latest case means UCT has now had eight COVID-19 cases. Six of the eight individuals who previously tested positive have fully recovered (three students and three staff members).


2. Western Cape COVID-19 testing facilities

A number of department of health clinics in the Western Cape are available for individuals to be tested if they are concerned that they may have contracted COVID-19.

A full list of clinics is available at: www.westerncape.gov.za.


3. Chancellor applauds university community

In a message to the campus community, UCT Chancellor Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe noted that like institutions across the globe, UCT is facing a highly complex and evolving situation. Dr Moloi-Motsepe applauded the UCT executive and the Leadership Lekgotla of deans and executive directors who lead and manage a community of 34 000 staff and students, with courage, dignity and compassion. She also applauded other members of the campus community – staff, researchers, students and alumni – for their resilience, dedication and support.


4. Remote teaching updates for academic staff

UCT is in the second week of online learning. The main concern of the past week has been the slow delivery of laptops to identified students, the distribution of which is currently scheduled for completion by Friday, 8 May.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Associate Professor Lis Lange has noted that while the large majority of academic staff have been truly accommodating when it comes to dealing with students, there have been some problems. She has appealed for flexibility in managing deadlines for students who will only be joining courses from Monday, 11 May.


5. Reimbursing remote connectivity costs

The university has instituted an interim Remote Connectivity (GEN 006) policy that will be in place while office functions continue to operate remotely as a result of COVID-19. The intention of GEN 006 is to ensure that UCT staff members do not incur additional connectivity costs because of the necessity of working remotely. It provides a framework to guide managers on reimbursing staff members for the data they need to use in the course of their work for the university. Managers can process requests for reimbursing multiple data allowances for their staff members on the HR109A form.

Staff are asked to please keep in mind that UCT is facing a number of additional emergency costs that have been incurred by COVID-19 and the measures that have been mandated by the national government.


6. Guidelines on staffing matters during COVID-19

UCT has developed guidelines with regards to specific staffing-related matters at the university during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university will continue to work remotely during stage four and will advise in future if and when this position changes.

The guidelines have been informed by the government’s strategy on social distancing, UCT’s vision for 2030, institutional strategies for financial and social sustainability, and labour relations prescripts. UCT’s goal is to continue to be an employer of choice.

The guidelines offer a high-level approach to various staffing-related matters. The scale and complexity of UCT’s operations and details relating to specific scenarios may require further nuancing by the Human Resources (HR) department. Where this is required, or if you need clarity on a specific issue about staffing recruitment, selection and contracts, please email the Director: HR Client Services, Mr Zaheer Ally, or phone him on 021 650 4226.


7. Building the future through the COVID-19 UCT Emergency Fund

The university has set up a COVID-19 UCT Emergency Fund to assist in the fight against the virus and its impact on the UCT community. This fund has so far helped with needs such as providing transportation for students who needed to return home ahead of lockdown, disinfecting buildings as they were vacated, sourcing laptop computers and arranging their delivery to needy students, providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to essential staff members who needed to remain on campus, and purchasing data bundles for students who are able to study online at home, to name a few. The laptops alone have incurred a total cost of about R16.4 million. When the lockdown is lifted and students and staff start returning to campus, the COVID-19 UCT Emergency Fund will help to provide for other needs, such as PPEs to ensure their safety.


8. ICTS scheduled maintenance

Please note that on Sunday, 10 May 2020, Information and Communication Technology Services ICTS) will perform scheduled maintenance from 09:00-17:00. Unless advised to the contrary, staff and students are advised not to 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 teaching, conferences, meetings, and other activities that require ICT services.

 

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 updates

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March and implement a national lockdown from 26 March.

UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated regularly with the latest COVID-19 information.

Campus updates

 
  •  Information
  •  Normal
  •  Caution
  •  Alert

Daily updates


Friday, 5 February 14:20, 5 February 2021
Monday, 4 January 16:50, 4 January 2021
Friday, 18 December 11:30, 18 December 2020
Thursday, 19 November 09:30, 19 November 2020
Friday, 13 November 12:40, 13 November 2020
Friday, 16 October 10:05, 16 October 2020
Wednesday, 14 October 12:50, 14 October 2020
Tuesday, 22 September 14:10, 22 September 2020
Friday, 11 September 10:05, 11 September 2020
Monday, 31 August 12:20, 31 August 2020
Wednesday, 12 August 10:20, 12 August 2020
Friday, 7 August 11:24, 7 August 2020
Thursday, 6 August 18:26, 6 August 2020
Monday, 27 July 14:00, 27 July 2020
Wednesday, 15 July 09:30, 15 July 2020
Monday, 13 July 14:25, 13 July 2020
Monday, 6 July 16:20, 6 July 2020
Thursday, 25 June 10:15, 25 June 2020
Tuesday, 23 June 12:30, 23 June 2020
Thursday, 18 June 17:35, 18 June 2020
Wednesday, 17 June 10:45, 17 June 2020
Tuesday, 2 June 12:20, 2 June 2020
Friday, 29 May 09:25, 29 May 2020
Monday, 25 May 14:00, 25 May 2020
Thursday, 21 May 12:00, 21 May 2020
Wednesday, 6 May 10:00, 6 May 2020
Tuesday, 5 May 17:05, 5 May 2020
Thursday, 30 April 17:10, 30 April 2020
Tuesday, 28 April 10:30, 28 April 2020
Friday, 24 April 09:35, 24 April 2020
Thursday, 23 April 17:00, 23 April 2020
Wednesday, 22 April 14:25, 22 April 2020
Monday, 20 April 17:45, 20 April 2020
Friday, 17 April 12:30, 17 April 2020
Thursday, 16 April 09:45, 16 April 2020
Tuesday, 14 April 11:30, 14 April 2020
Thursday, 9 April 09:00, 9 April 2020
Wednesday, 8 April 15:40, 8 April 2020
Wednesday, 1 April 15:50, 1 April 2020
Friday, 27 March 11:40, 27 March 2020
Thursday, 26 March 18:30, 26 March 2020
Tuesday, 24 March 15:40, 24 March 2020
Monday, 23 March 15:40, 23 March 2020
Friday, 20 March 16:00, 20 March 2020
Thursday, 19 March 09:15, 19 March 2020
Wednesday, 18 March 16:00, 18 March 2020
Tuesday, 17 March 12:50, 17 March 2020
Monday, 16 March 17:15, 16 March 2020

Campus communications


New SRC and other updates 16:44, 4 November 2020
Virtual graduation ceremonies 13:30, 21 October 2020
Online staff assembly and other updates 15:09, 30 September 2020
Fee adjustments and other updates 15:21, 16 September 2020
Call for proposals: TLC2020 10:15, 26 August 2020
SAULM survey and other updates 15:30, 5 August 2020
COVID-19 cases and other updates 15:26, 5 August 2020
New UCT Council and other updates 15:12, 15 July 2020
Upcoming UCT virtual events 09:30, 15 July 2020
Pre-paid data for UCT students 14:25, 22 April 2020
Update for postgraduate students 12:55, 20 April 2020
UCT Human Resources and COVID-19 16:05, 19 March 2020
UCT confirms second COVID-19 case 09:15, 19 March 2020
Update on UCT COVID-19 response 13:50, 11 March 2020
Update on COVID-19 17:37, 6 March 2020

Resources

Video messages from the Department of Medicine

Getting credible, evidence-based, accessible information and recommendations relating to COVID-19

The Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, are producing 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. For more information on UCT’s Department of Medicine, please visit the website.


To watch more videos like these, visit the Department of Medicine’s YouTube channel.

Useful information from UCT

External resources


News and opinions


Statements and media releases


Media releases



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Statements from Government



 
 

In an email to the UCT community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is a rapidly changing epidemic. [...] Information [...] will be updated as and when new information becomes available.”

 

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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