Minister Blade Nzimande on post school education and training COVID-19 cluster outbreaks 

The Minister of Higher Education Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, appeal to students, lecturers and all staff, to remain vigilant and adhere to the Covid 19 regulations and HIGHER HEALTH protocols and guidelines as the 2021 academic year gets under way.  

 Minister Nzimande is concerned with reports of pockets of COVID infections within  the Post School Education and Training sector. 

 Minister Nzimande received a briefing from HIGHER HEALTH, the agency mandated by the Department of Higher Education and Training to safeguard student health and wellbeing, that the current outbreaks across some of our institutions are extremely worrying. 
 “While COVID has largely been detrimental for the older population groups, the virus is mutating and new variants are showing a higher affinity towards young people who can serve as carriers and fasten the spread of infection. Unfortunately, that would fire up the third wave,” warned Minister Nzimande. 

 Minister Nzimande confirmed that currently only the University of Pretoria has experienced a small cluster outbreak. However, there are pockets of positive cases in other universities and TVET colleges. These cases are not yet classified as cluster outbreaks.   “55 students from the University of Pretoria have tested positive up until Wednesday, 31st March 202. We are aggressively working on contact tracing with the help of the Department of Health and have tested and screened a large number of students and staff over the last few days. Higher Health is still screening and testing this week, for which results are still awaited.

There is a probability that  the number of positive cases may rise.,” said Minister Nzimande   Minister Nzimande said Higher Health, working with the institutions, the local DOH, the NICD and the NHLS has formulated Cluster Outbreak investigation teams. Over 3000 students and staff are being screened and contact traced, with over 200 being tested, thus far.  
 
“Fast testing results, early isolations and moving to quarantine facilities have helped us so far to contain current and previous outbreaks. Further, the DOH and Higher Health have developed screening stations around the affected residences, Higher Health mobile unit, institutional campus clinic, occupational health, employee wellness teams are also stationed, offering psychosocial and other health and wellness assistance to the affected residents,” said Minister Nzimande. 
 The Minister further said that Higher Health has organised training of more than 180 staff members working in security, residences, cleaning staff, student support, among others, on all COVID-19 protocols and disinfection measures. 
 
HealthCheck

HIGHER HEALTH’s digital platform HealthCheck is a daily COVID-19 screening and monitoring tool for assessing one’s level of risk prior to entering campuses. It transmits data to the national tracking system. 

 24-hour tollfree helpline 

 Call 0800 36 36 36 SMS 43336 Anxiety, stress, depression, thoughts and attempts at suicide and other mental illness and gender-based violence present high risks to students and staff. This dedicated tollfree 24/7 helpline is run by experienced psychologists, social workers and counsellors and provides support in all 11 official languages.  

Mobile clinics  Ten fully furnished mobile clinic units bring health services to remote and under-resourced colleges and universities around the country. The roving fleet provides primary healthcare with specific focus on the youth epidemics addressed by HIGHER HEALTH and COVID-19. 
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 Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
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