Staff Reporter
Central University of Technology (CUT) has reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case after a staff member at the Free State institution’s Bloemfontein campus tested positive for the coronavirus.
In a statement released Friday, the university said the infected staff member is currently in self-isolation and is being treated under the supervision of the Free State provincial health department.
“We wish our colleague all of the best during the self-isolation period, and a speedy, full recovery. We care about you as CUT family, and you are in our thoughts and prayers,” CUT vice chancellor and principal, Professor Henk de Jager, said.
According to the statement, the provincial health department has already commenced with contact tracing to identify the people who were in close contact with the infected staffer.
“We have closed the affected building for cleaning according to the prescribed protocol,” de Jager said.
“Exposure of all other staff members and students currently at the university is deemed to be of a low risk.
“The university has taken all the necessary precautions to ensure that our facilities are sanitised and safe.”
The Free State has recorded about 976 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
There have been 11 deaths and about 318 people have recovered from the disease in the province.
“We are finding ourselves in a rapidly changing and extremely challenging environment, and we fully understand that the COVID-19 pandemic is creating ambiguity, trepidation, and concern on a personal and an institutional level,” de Jager said.
“Be assured that the university is dedicated to ensuring a safe environment within our means for staff and students currently on our campuses,” he added.