UKZN first university in South Africa to register Covid-19 cases

The University of KwaZulu-Natal has become the first university in the country to publicly confirm a case of Covid-19 since the re-opening of tertiary institutions.

In an internal communique sent to students on Sunday, the university said two people had tested positive for Covid-19; a staff member at the Howard College campus and a student at the Medical School Campus.

The staff member belonged to the Department of Student Residence Affairs (DSRA) based in the Annexe Building.

“DSRA offices have been closed and disinfection is currently underway. A process of tracing possible contacts is (also) underway),” read the statement.

The university said all students and staff members who have been in direct contact with the infected persons have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days as a precautionary measure.

“Health and safety is our number one priority. UKZN is following health and safety protocols from national health authorities and has implemented guidelines in relation to social interactions, social distancing, hygiene, travel and protocols on entering our campuses.”

The university released a statement last week saying it would be phasing in some students from Monday, 29 June.

These include final year students, students in laboratory-based programmes, students in programmes which are clinically based and the Student Representative Council, among others.

The Department of Higher Education and Training has allowed universities to phase in 33% of its student population under Level 3.

*This is the first Covid-19 case, at a South African university, that has been publicly confirmed.

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