Universities on high alert as Covid-19 spreads

Universities in Gauteng, Cape Town and the KwaZulu-Natal are putting in place contingency plans as the confirmed cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus continue to rise.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal on Monday announced that it would be suspending its academic programme following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement on Sunday that prohibited gatherings of more than 100 people.

This followed similar action from the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cape Town, both of which reported confirmed cases of the Covid-19.

UCT vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng announced that a staff member who had tested positive for Covid-19 was currently under isolation at home.

As a result, UCT closed all residences with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Wits had pressed 350 medical students to self-quarantine after a fellow student tested positive with the Covid-19 virus.

UKZN had not reported any cases yet and said it was seeking guidance from the relevant ministries. The university said management “had resolved to work with the senate to ensure that all lectures are recorded and loaded on to virtual platforms as a matter of urgency”.

Both Wits and UKZN had taken steps to move their graduation ceremonies.

UKZN was set to host more than 20 graduation ceremonies for about 30 000 graduates and their families.

“After due consideration of inputs from the university’s Covid-19 team of experts and other key stakeholders, a decision has been taken to cancel the 2020 April graduation ceremonies. The university regrets the inconvenience caused but felt it important to minimise the risks associated with such a large gathering and exposure to individuals who may have been exposed to the coronavirus,” the university said in a statement.

The university was “exploring options to ensure that graduates receive their qualifications and other related documents by the end of April 2020”

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has also taken measures to deal with the global pandemic.In a statement on Monday, the university announced that it would be delinking biometric scanners at all entrance points and have hand sanitisers at key points.UJ said teaching and learning would continue via online and other appropriate means, however, “all contact classes, tests and practicals are suspended with effect from Monday until further notice.”

The university has also suspended graduation ceremonies and will be issuing students with digital certificates.

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) will follow suit in embracing technology and will be issuing certificates virtually.

“The chancellor together with the rector and vice-bhancellor and registrar, will digitally hold a small official ceremony where all qualifications will be conferred to graduands whose names appear in the March/April 2020 graduation booklets. Once the ceremony, which will be filmed and available on various platforms, is concluded, graduates will be permitted to collect their certificates from the University,” UWC said in a statement.

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande said at an interministerial briefing on Monday that there was no plan to shut down universities.

“We are suspending lectures and we will minimise contact among students, but we are not as yet planning a shutdown. There are pros and cons to shutting down the institutions completely,” he said, adding that: “Where do you take the students? Moving them out of the residences? That’s a discussion we will have tomorrow as to whether the situation warrants a shutting down.”

As of Monday morning, the number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19 in South Africa was 62 and expected to increase.

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