Covid-19 tertiary campaign to come to Makhanda

STAFF REPORTER

Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) is focusing on tertiary institutions in its Covid19 awareness programmes and has scheduled a major information drive for Friday 23 October 2020 in targeted tertiary institutions across the Eastern Cape, including Eastcape Midlands College in Makhanda.

In a media statement, the agency said this was prompted by the recent rise of Covid-19 transmission in institutions of higher learning.

Thirty students from the University of Fort Hare recently tested positive for Covid-19 following a night out in an East London tavern.

“There is a growing concern around student compliance to Covid-19 protocols in institutions of higher learning in the Province,” the GCIS said. “Alert level 1 has led to a misconception that Covid-19 virus has died down and this has led to sporadic surges of cases in some parts of the Province.”

“Although tertiary students are understood to be very much cognisant about the effects of Covid-19 and saving the academic year, it has also been observed that students form a significant portion of the population that violates the Covid-19 protocols.”

The targeted institutions are Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth; University of Fort Hare in Buffalo City Metro; Walter Sisulu University in Chris Hani District; East Cape Midlands College Grahamstown Campus; Walter Sisulu University, Butterworth in the Amathole District; Walter Sisulu in OR Tambo District; and Ingwe FET College, Kwabhaca in Alfred Nzo District.

Students and the general public will be urged to download the Covid Alert App that uses Bluetooth technology to alert users when they are in close contact with any other user who has tested positive for Coronavirus in the past 14 days.