Following the announcement by the President of a national state of disaster, the SPU Senior Management Team met today to consider a plan of action.

The University notes that there are no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 viral infection in the Northern Cape.

Notwithstanding this, the following interventions are being implemented by the Senior Management Team, effective 17 March 2020:

Occupational Health and Safety Precautions:

1. Sanitizers will be placed at every entrance to University buildings.  This will be administered by Campus Security staff.
2. No visitors will be allowed into university residences or academic buildings.
3. All meetings with external partners are cancelled until further notice.
4. Maintain a healthy social distance and where possible refrain from meeting in groups.
5. Any member of the SPU community has the responsibility to report their exposure to an infected person or a suspected infected person or who are themselves infected.
6. Students must present themselves at the Campus Clinic, for an initial assessment, if they are symptomatic.
7. Anyone who has travelled internationally to infectious hotspots must ensure that the necessary health precautions have been taken to ensure their health and that of others.
8. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.

Social Measures:

1. Official and planned national or international travel is prohibited.
2. No gatherings of 90 people or more is allowed.
3. All planned public events are postponed until further notice.
4. All sport and social club activities are suspended until further notice.
5. Planning is underway to stagger meals times in dining halls.

Managing the academic programme:

Schools have been advised to put in place practical measures where there are more than 90 students in a class.

The Senior Management Team is meeting regularly to monitor the local and national situation.

Further information on COVID-19 and guidelines on how to navigate through this global outbreak can be downloaded here.

Further communication will be sent out on 17 March 2020 about a longer term plan.