At the University of Fort Hare (UFH), a Covid wave has emerged with over 30 students testing positive after a party in East London where Covid-19 health protocols were not followed took place. Majority of the students are from the University’s Nursing Science and Law faculties.
The University stated the following in a media statement:
Health Department in the Eastern Cape has launched testing and tracing campaign after the recent outbreak of COVID-19 at the University of Fort Hare in the East London campus. This after 30 students tested positive amid allegations of non-compliance to Alert Level 1 Regulations where masks were not worn, social distancing not observed, non-washing and non-sanitising of hands was not done at the tavern in Quignet, East London on 3rd October 2020.
UFH continued to say that this non-compliance to regulations was also seen on the 10th of October when the ’10-10-2020 Bash’ took place at Quigney as well.
“To date the number of active cases are closer to 30 as results are still streaming in,” read the statement. As fo 17 October, 422 students were tested and currently has a testing and tracing process underway.
The affected students are currently in quarantine and isolation at a UFH residence with 134 rooms. This residence is situated at the University’s Alice Campus.
The blame for the outbreak seems to be put on the tavern’s shoulders as students confirmed that regulations were not follows and that there were more than 300 people at the tavern. Some of those attending the part are said to have even been drinking from one bottle and dancing close to each other.
Of the students who tested positive for the virus, one is in Mount Fletcher and another in Reston after tracing teams located them.
The Department is said to have been alerted about the outbreak amongst the University’s students.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health urges everyone to remain vigilant as Coronavirus is still amongst us. It is an invisible pandemic and our people are encouraged to always wear their masks, keep to social distancing, wash their hands regularly for more than 20 seconds, sanitise their hands and be tested once they exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19.
This event occurs as many expect a second wave to hit South Africa, especially now that we have festive season coming up.
The University concludes their statement by boldly saying, “people seem to think that COVID-19 is no more. People are advised to be responsible for their health”.
As of 18 October, South Africa has recorded a total of 703 793 confirmed Covid cases with an increase of 1 662 cases seen from the day before. The deaths related to the virus stand at 18 471 and recoveries at 634 543. Active cases in the country stands at 50 779.
NOTICE: Media statement on recent UFH COVID-19 outbreak.
Posted by University of Fort Hare on Sunday, 18 October 2020