SWS webinar on COVID-19 and support offered to students

Dear students

The Department of Student Affairs (DSA)’s Student Wellness Service (SWS) will host webinars every Thursday, during which tips will be shared on COVID-19. The first webinar will be held on Thursday, 17 June from 12:30 to 13:30 via MS Teams.

• Join the webinar (at 12:30 on 17 June).

Further details, including confirmed dates and links for upcoming webinars, will be made available on the SWS website.

Information on COVID-19 infections, UCT’s COVID-19 app, as well as campus and residence public health protocols will be discussed at the session.

• Read the DSA’s SWS COVID-19 student protocol.
• Read about how to report COVID-19 infections or access virtual SWS consultations.
• Read about how to cope with being in isolation.

Students are reminded to check the SWS FAQs for information relating to COVID-19. Read more about the COVID-19 support plan for students.

Some of the useful information covered through the FAQs include:

• Who do I contact if I have a COVID-19 related query?
  
  Book online or contact the SWS triage line (021 650 5620) or the COVID-19 hotline (021 650 1271).
• What happens if an SWS clinician confirms that I have COVID-19 symptoms or I have tested positive for COVID-19?
  
  Students who live off campus will be provided with support and treatment if needed.
  
  Students who live in UCT residences will be transferred to the UCT isolation facility – All Africa House – and if not tested, will be assisted with testing at a public or private testing facility.
  
  Students should inform their faculty if they test positive.
• What happens if I am a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
  
  “Close contact” means that you have had face-to-face contact within 1 metre or you were in a closed space for more than 15 minutes with a person with COVID-19. This contact would have happened while the person with COVID-19 was still “infectious”, ie from two days before to 10 days after their symptoms began.
  
  Students who are close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case must self-quarantine in their UCT rooms or in their private accommodation for 10 days.
  
  SWS will contact close contacts of confirmed cases and provide them with the necessary advice and support during their 10-day self-quarantine period.
  
  See the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) website for further advice.
• What facilities are offered by the SWS?
  
  SWS is a comprehensive primary health care facility, providing medical, counselling and social work services.
• How do I make a medical appointment?
  
  Book online.
• How do I make a counselling / social work appointment?
  
  Book online.
• Who do I contact for psychiatric emergencies?
  
  Contact the SWS.
• Who do I contact if distressed at any time?
  
  Call the 24-hour telephonic services, which is available 365 days a year. The SADAG UCT Students Careline can be reached by calling 0800 24 25 26 (toll-free from a Telkom line) or sending an SMS to 31393 for a call-me-back. The ER24 UCT collaboration line can be reached on 010 205 3010 (toll-free).
• Who do I contact if I require an ambulance?
  
  Contact Campus Protection Services (CPS) on 021 650 2222/3 (24-hour hotline).
• Who do I contact if I have been sexually assaulted?
  
  Contact CPS on 021 650 2222/3 (24-hour hotline) or the Office for Inclusivity & Change on 021 650 3530 or 072 393 7824.

The SWS has in place other measures to support your wellbeing:

• Get more information on the Peer Mental Health Support Programme, meet the SWS’s peer counsellors and start getting involved.
• Join the RunWalk4MentalHealth activity.
• Join a support group such as Mindfulness (Pause & Connect Group).
• Are you a postgraduate student juggling studying and everything else? Join the Post Graduate Support Group by emailing SWS@uct.ac.za.
• Check the SWS website.

Students can send questions to the SWS peer counsellors on SWS@uct.ac.za or contact Ms Keletso Moilwe on keletso.moilwe@myuct.ac.za.

Remember:

• The pandemic is still here. We always need to remain cautious and follow all public health protocols on and off campus for the health of ourselves and of others.
• If you are coming to campus, use the UCT app before leaving home. If you are ill, stay home and report any red or amber result on the UCT app to SWS.
• Wash hands regularly or sanitise, wear your mask – covering the nose and mouth – and show care by maintaining social distance.
• When the vaccine rollout phase allows for students to be vaccinated, please do get your jab.
• Most of all, please play your part in preventing the spread of infection.

Student Wellness Services

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements