Giving to RU

I got my shot. RU Vaccinated?

JOIN OUR VACCINATION DRIVE! 

A CVRTT INITIATIVE

In response to the government strategy through the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and Higher Health to increase the availability of the number of sites for the vaccination of the adult population by March 2022, Rhodes University opened an outreach site at the Gavin Relly Postgraduate Village on campus on 20 July 2021.

According to the framework set out by Higher Health, once all the Rhodes University staff and students eligible for vaccination under the current national rollout plan have been vaccinated,  family members and the greater Makhanda community will be vaccinated.

Members of staff and students who are eligible to be vaccinated must register on the official Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) self-registration portal -  https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za. Following their registration, you must send an email to vaccine@ru.ac.za to make an appointment to receive your vaccination. The following details must be included in the email:

·         In the subject line, your surname and ID number

·         Name and surname

·         ID number

·         Staff /student number

·         Contact number

 

Boosters also available, so please book your booster shot as soon as it is your turn to do so. Please see more information on boosters here: https://www.nicd.ac.za/covid-19-vaccine-booster-shot-frequently-asked-questions/

 

Information on this page will change regularly, so please check back. Let's vaccinate South Africa together. #RUVaccinated #Getyourshot

 

VACCINE AWARENESS TOOLKIT

Join our awareness campaign! If you want Facebook stickers, email signatures or website banners, please find all our awareness material free-to-use here. 

 

Facebook frame

If you want to add a RUVaccinated frame to your Facebook profile picture, please do the following:

 

 

 

Straight talk with Prof Dorrington – Boost your way to better protection

May 20, '22By
With the fifth COVID-19 infection wave now upon us, there is no better time to get your vaccine booster. But what is a booster? And why do you need it? We asked Professor Rosemary Dorrington, virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, all the essential questions about boosters.
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Straight Talk with Prof Dorrington – Welcome to the fourth wave

Nov 29, '21By
Vaccines are ultimately the best way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to protecting our community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, addresses queries, fears, and misinformation.
Read More

Straight talk with Prof Dorrington – How Delta has moved the goalposts

Oct 13, '21By
Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to protecting our community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.
Read More

Technology should not stop us trusting students

Sep 21, '21By
From Rhodes University in South Africa, Sioux Mckenna asks whether the technological arms race of plagiarism detection is of any benefit to students and learning
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Straight talk with Prof Dorrington – Getting the facts straight

Sep 16, '21By
Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to protecting our community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.
Read More

Straight talk with Prof Dorrington – All about the SARS-CoV-2 variants

Aug 4, '21By
Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to attaining herd immunity and protecting the whole community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face. Question: “What are all these different coronavirus variants I keep hearing about? And which ones are affecting South Africa?”
Read More

Straight Talk with Prof Dorrington – Trust me, you do not want COVID-19

Jul 29, '21By
Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to attaining herd immunity and protecting the whole community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.
Read More

Straight Talk with Prof Dorrington – how safe are vaccines?

Jul 21, '21By
Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to attaining herd immunity and protecting the whole community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.
Read More

[28 June 2021] COVID-19 Update | Adjusted Alert Level 4 as of 28 June 2021

Jun 28, '21By
In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, 27 June, President Ramaphosa announced that in light of the third wave of the pandemic, the country would be moving to adjusted Alert Level 4 as of Monday, 28 June 2021. “Our priority is to break the chain of transmission by reducing person-to-person contact and thereby help to flatten the curve,” Ramaphosa said.
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[8 June 2021] DVC: Academic and Student Affairs letter to students

Jun 8, '21By
It is always a pleasure to take time to engage you on important matters that affect you as a student. In my communique to you on 9 April, I mentioned a number of important things.
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[9 November] DVC letter to staff and students

Nov 9, '20By
We are almost at the end of 2020, a year that started like any other. This year being the beginning of a new decade seemed to promise big opportunities. When it started we were already aware of an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in Wuhan China, and yet none of us thought this year would bequeath us a pandemic of this magnitude; a pandemic that forced us to change the way we do things.
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[19 September] VC letter to staff and students on Level 1 arrangements

Sep 19, '20By
On Wednesday, 16 September 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation regarding the move from national Alert Level 2 to 1. In his speech, the President emphasised the need for the country to open the economy as a result of a significant decrease in COVID-19 infections and deaths, as well as the preparedness of our health system. However, he warned us not to lower our guard as we embrace the ‘new normal’, but to keep adhering to health and safety protocols and non-pharmaceutical interventions of wearing a face mask, washing our hands regularly with soap and water or a sanitiser and practising safe physical distancing at all times.
Read More

[31 August] Arrangements for more students to return to campus

Aug 31, '20By
The last five months have been extraordinarily difficult and unsettling for many of us and in so many ways. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives in ways no one could have imagined or predicted.
Read More

Rhodes University moves to bring back more students on campus

Aug 31, '20By
More Rhodes University students are to be invited to return to campus, following an announcement by government to move the country to Alert Level 2 of its Risk-Adjusted Strategy to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
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[11 August] Those who return to campus and Makhanda must take responsibility for their wellbeing and that of those around them

Aug 11, '20By
In order to curb the spread of the virus in our University and the local community, all students are required to adhere the preventative measures.
Read More

[2 August] Communique to Students from DVC

Aug 2, '20By
As we commence the second semester on Monday 3 August, we are forced to look back with gratitude at what we have achieved during the first semester albeit under very difficult and stressful national lockdown conditions.
Read More

[2 July] VC's letter to staff and students

Jul 2, '20By
I hope you are holding up reasonably well in this time of unprecedented uncertainty, anxiety and stress. I am acutely aware of just how difficult it is for all of us to operate under the constant threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. My thoughts are with our staff and students who are in isolation, quarantine or are receiving treatment.
Read More

Update on the phased return of students to campus

Jun 14, '20By
Today marks day 79 of the national Covid-19 lockdown, although under eased conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our lives in ways no one could have imagined a short five months ago. Many of us have adjusted to this as our temporary new ‘normal’ and are ensuring that our daily business processes continue with as little disruption as possible. However, for many people these conditions are hard to comprehend.
Read More

Risk-Adjusted Level Student Return Plan

May 31, '20By
On 23 May 2020, the Minister of Higher Education, Science & Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, laid out a set of criteria for the return of students to universities according to the declared risk-adjusted alert levels. The Ministry’s framing theme in providing guidance for the post-school in these uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic is #SaveLives, #SaveTheAcademicYear.
Read More

Pandemic launches Rhodes University into new method of teaching and learning

May 26, '20By
Although the concept of remote teaching at Rhodes University is not new, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought this form of teaching and learning into focus.
Read More

Coronavirus Response Task Team (CVRTT)

The Rhodes University Coronavirus Response Task Team can be contacted on cvrtt@ru.ac.za.

 

CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE TASK TEAM 

Rhodes University’s Coronavirus Response Task Team (CVRTT) was formed to address the challenges that might arise should there be a suspected or confirmed case at Rhodes University and to develop and implement an action plan to respond to the risks of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

We are taking steps to ensure every possible challenge is being addressed. We are actively and closely monitoring the situation and making appropriate arrangements to mitigate its impact on the health, welfare and safety of our students and staff.

Regular information will be shared with the community as the situation continues to change and develop. The current situation in respect of COVID-19 is extremely fluid and changes daily. Please be alert to any updates distributed by the University.

The Task Team can be contacted on cvrtt@ru.ac.za.

 

SUSPECTED CASES 

  • The Rhodes University Health Care Centre has been identified as the first port of call for suspected cases.
  • It is advised that those who suspect they may be infected first call the Centre and ask them how to proceed. This will allow the health care workers to prepare.
  • The Health Care Centre’s phone number is 046 603 8523.
  • After hours, please contact ER24 on 010 205 3068.
  • Please refer to the Coronavirus Protocol for steps that need to be taken and preventative measures.
  • In the case of suspected cases with mild illness, a transit housing facility will be made available for isolation.

 

VACCINE MANDATE

The University has, since reopening in 2022, implemented a vaccine mandate approved by Council as a condition for entry onto campus for all staff, students, and visitors as part of a full and safe return to campus. Approximately 98 percent of the university community (including staff and students) have since been vaccinated, and the University has incrementally returned to normal operations.

The University’s objective is to achieve a full return to normal on-campus activities, balanced with the protection of the health and safety of Rhodes University and the greater Makhanda communities.

 

CLEANLINESS & HYGIENE

  • Staff and students are urged to educate themselves about the hygiene practices to follow to avoid infection. The simplest and most effective method is to wash hands thoroughly with soap (for 20 seconds) and rinse with water.
  • A water task team has been formed to develop a short-, medium-, and long-term plan and strategies to mitigate the impact of water shortages on the University, especially in the context of a possible outbreak of the coronavirus.
  • Hand sanitiser dispensers have been installed at strategic points across the campus, and all are encouraged to use them responsibly, cognisant of the fact that the ongoing supply of hand sanitiser has become very limited. Please see: Sanitiser Locations.
  • People are encouraged to keep healthy by engaging in alternative forms of exercising outside or in well-ventilated areas.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

  • The task team is in regular contact with the Provincial Department of Health.
  • Regular communications will be issued to the University informing the community of any changes.
  • Awareness-raising campaigns are currently being rolled-out.

 

Link to the official protocol (what to do in the event of a suspected case): Coronavirus Protocol
 
 
USEFUL DOCUMENTATION FOR STAFF
 
GENERAL INFORMATION & SOURCES