Campus announcements
COVID-19 updates and other developments
06 May 2020 | Campus AnnouncementDear students
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 – students, staff, researchers and alumni – for their resilience, dedication and support.
4. Remote teaching updates for undergraduate students
UCT is continuing to attend to outstanding laptop deliveries as urgently as possible. Laptop deliveries started on 24 April and only a limited number can be delivered per day. UCT is working as fast as possible to complete the deliveries by, at the latest, 8 May.
Students on all networks have now received data. In addition, all four network providers have zero-rated access to specified UCT sites. A dedicated webpage has been created on the ICTS website that will be updated regularly when and if additional sites are zero-rated.
5. 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.
6. 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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