TUT suspends contact classes as student dies of Covid-19
“It was with extreme concern and sadness that the University this week took note of the loss of a young student life due to Covid-19 and reports of increasing numbers of students and staff testing positive with the virus.”
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has suspended contact classes after Covid-19 claimed the life of a student.
The student who died was from the Ga-Rankuwa campus, however, the university could not verify her age at the time of print.
TUT teaching, learning and technology deputy vice-chancellor Professor Stanley Mukhola said students who came in contact with her were isolating and being assisted to avoid the spread of the virus.
“Lectures will remain suspended till the situation improves”
Mukhola called for more vigilance and adherence to the required Covid-19 rules to help stop the spread due to the rise in infections in communities, including TUT.
“It was with extreme concern and sadness that the university this week took note of the loss of a young student life due to Covid-19 and reports of increasing numbers of students and staff testing positive with the virus.
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“In view of these risks, students will resume with online teaching and learning from Monday, as per the approved multi-modal teaching and learning strategy.”
He said the university would provide students with the necessary data to support them with online learning.
Mukhola said according to the Department of Health, the majority of provinces were currently in the third wave of Covid-19 infections.
“The infection rate is especially high and concerning in Gauteng, thus the university resolved to suspend contact lectures from Monday, 7 June 2021 due to the increasing risk of infections on campus,” said Mukhola.
Invigilated tests and examinations would, however, continue as scheduled.
“Students will only be allowed on campus to write tests and once done, they will be required to leave campus immediately.”
He said while other students enrolled for subjects that needed practical training in laboratories, master’s and doctoral students needed permits to be allowed on campus.
“The university understands that students with disabilities face challenges, therefore, these students will be accommodated to work on campus and access the resources they need for their studies.”
Mukhola said the university would also run a limited bus transport service to ensure students comply with Covid-19 regulations.
Professor Bruce Mellado of the Gauteng premier’s advisory council recently warned residents on the spread of infections in the province.
Mellado said as of June 3, Gauteng had 16 hotspots with Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng mentioned.
“The hotspots are growing, and the most active cases are in Tshwane (Pretoria industrial) and Krugersdorp central.”
He said the risk in Tshwane and Johannesburg was also clearly increasing.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams said this week, the metro had seen another significant increase in the number of active Covid-19 cases.
“Our most recent Covid-19 report indicates that active cases have now jumped to 6 492. This is yet again, another noticeably high week-on-week increase in active cases.”
He said in the previous week, the figure stood at 4 444 active cases.
“New confirmed daily cases are also increasing, ranging between 800 and 900 cases per day.
“The continued increase in active Covid-19 cases indicates that we are now truly in the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is important that we all adhere to adjusted level 2 regulations and continue to be vigilant while practising safety measures such as wearing of masks, washing hands regularly and social distancing.”
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