Infographic: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronaviruses are usually affect only animals. Those that infect humans cause mild to severe upper respiratory tract illness, including high fever, coughing and difficulty breathing.

COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation and a national disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

COVID-19 spreads from the upper airways of an infected person when they cough or sneeze. Saliva droplets fall onto nearby surfaces, where the virus can live for a number of days. Most of the risk comes from touching infected surfaces and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes.

Social distancing is the most effective way of slowing the spread of COVID-19.

• Keep your distance from others (about 2 metres).
• Avoid taking public transport.
• Limit your activites in public and avoid crowded places (gatherings larger than 100 people).
• UCT has cancelled or postponed events until the end of June 2020.
• Staff and students must work from home if possible.
• UCT will rely largely on online learning.
• Students must vacate residences where possible.

People over 60 and those living with chronic medical conditions, such as:

• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• respiratory conditions
• high blood pressure
• cancer.

Travellers to high-risk areas are particularly vulnerable

• Stay home on your return.
• Practice social distancing for 14 days.
• Ensure meticulous hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Take your temperature  twice a day.
• Monitor for fever, a cough or trouble breathing.

• Stay at home and self-isolate.
• Ensure meticulous hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Immediately contact the facilities earmarked for COVID-19 testing or the Student Wellness Service.

• Wash you hands regularly with soap and water.
• Regularly use an alcohol-based (≥ 60% alcohol hand-sanitiser).
• Cover your mouth (using a tissue or your elbow) when coughing or sneezing.
• Place used tissues directly into the bin, and wash your hands immediately afterwards.
• Increasingly clean all surfaces that are frequently touched using normal cleaning products,
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

National Department of Health WhatsApp service
060 012 3456 (WhatsApp "Hi" for access to relevant information)

National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NCID) hotline
0800 029 999

Student Wellness Service
021 650 5620 (office hours)
021 650 1271 (after hours)
021 650 5685 (staff only)

Independent Counselling and Advisory Services (ICAS)
On-site counselling will be suspended for now, but the all-new ICAS On-the-Go app lets you chat live with an ICAS counsellor, giving you and your family access to 24/7/365 health and wellness info.

Please call me: *134*905#
Email: uct@icas.co.za
Telephonic counselling: 080 111 3945
Get ICAS On-the-Go