Eastern Cape universities concerned by rising COVID-19 cases

More students at South Africa’s University of Fort Hare have tested positive for COVID-19. On Monday 19 October, the Eastern Cape department of health said 30 students at the East London campus had contracted the virus after visiting a tavern and attending a party. Now 26 more students have COVID-19, according to a joint statement from the University of Fort Hare and Walter Sisulu University, writes Bongekile Macupe for the Mail and Guardian.

The two vice-chancellors said they were worried about the rising numbers of cases among students at their East London campuses over the past two weeks. Walter Sisulu University said it did not have the final number of infected students, but it was aware that students have been admitted to hospital.

In a statement, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who is in quarantine at home, said he was concerned about the rising number of cases in the country and warned of the “small flames” that are occurring. He said there were “concerning increases in some provinces”, including the Western Cape, which had seen the number of cases increase by 42% over the past week. Last week, 89 people, among them 37 matric learners, who went to the Tin Roof bar in Cape Town’s southern suburbs had tested positive for the virus.
Full report on the Mail and Guardian site