SA universities shut amid coronavirus pandemic
President Cyril Ramaphosa's declared a national state of disaster, emphasising that everyone would need to be part of the fight against COVID-19. Tertiary institutions have stepped up their response.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal announced this morning that it has suspended its academic programme including tests, with immediate effect and until further notice. This after the President's ban on gatherings of more than a hundred people. It's also cancelled its graduation ceremonies held in April each year.
The University of Cape Town's stopped classes saying students in residences have 72 hours to vacate their rooms. A UCT staff member tested positive for the virus and is in isolation at home.
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At WITS, a med student has been in self-quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. Government is aware of the confirmed case of a student who has tested positive for the coronavirus at the university. Those who have been in contact with the student will be quarantined.
The varsity says students who shared a class with the affected student will be tested.
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Early school closures, a restriction on gatherings and travel bans. They're all part of the country's plan of action to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, which has left at least 61 people sick.
There'll be early school closures, lasting three and a half weeks. Schools will be closed from Wednesday and will remain closed until after the Easter weekend. To compensate, the mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week.
President Ramaphosa last night outlined a number of measures to held South Africa deal with the pandemic. South Africa has 72 ports of entry into our country which are through the land, sea and airports. Of the 53 land ports, 35 will be shut down from today.
