WSU Mthatha staffer tests positive for Covid-19

A staff member at Walter Sisulu University's Mthatha campus (WSU) has tested positive for Covid-19.

University spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo said the institution received confirmation of the positive case on Monday.

“I can confirm that the person didn't contract the virus on campus,” she said.

Tukwayo said the staff member had not been in contact with anyone from the institution since testing positive, and had gone straight into quarantine.

“The university remains closed and no staff members are allowed on campus except for essential service staff. We have done contact-tracing and informed staff members who were in contact with the infected person, and they're now self-isolating,” said Tukwayo.

WSU SRC president Sihle Msomi, who is part of the WSU Covid-19 task team, said a positive case at the institution was “inevitable”, especially in the OR Tambo region, as provincial Covid-19 numbers rose.

OR Tambo district municipality has been a hotspot for  infections in the province, some emanating from a funeral on March 21 in Majola village, Port St Johns.  

In Machibini village in PSJ, 40  people linked to the funeral were directly or indirectly infected.

Msomi said: “We are hopeful the government will take charge in this situation as coronavirus is a global pandemic, not isolated to WSU or OR Tambo. As the Covid-19 task team at the university we have worked hand in hand with the district and the municipality. We are happy with how WSU management has dealt with the positive Covid-19 case.

“The area the staff member occupied on campus is being fumigated and cleaned. This cleaning and sanitisation process has been happening across the campus for the past two weeks. Fortunately, the staff member didn't go anywhere near student residences,” Msomi said.

He said the university was in contact with the family of the staff member to ensure proper safety measures were taken.

During his last briefing session on the effects of Covid-19 on tertiary institutions, higher education minister Blade Nzimande said campuses would remain closed, except for final-year clinical training students.

Nzimande said final-year medical students would return to campus on strict conditions to directly assist with the health management campaign of the department of health.

While the WSU Mthatha campus is the only institution in the province that produces physicians, Msomi said arrangements were being made to receive their medical students.

“Our efforts are now focused on preparing the campus for the arrival of our sixth-year medical students, who are set to return next week. The students have worked with various hospitals across the province including in Port Elizabeth, Bhisho and Makhanda. 

“The WSU task team has been proactive in assuring that health and safety protocols are followed at the institution. It is our hope that the Covid-19 curve will flatten so that on-site learning may eventually resume,” said Msomi.

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