‘Student bash’ sees 30 at Fort Hare test positive for Covid-19
The Department of Health in the Eastern Cape has launched a testing and tracing campaign after 30 students at the University of Fort Hare tested positive for Covid-19.
The students apparently failed to wear masks and social distance at a tavern in Quigney in East London.
University spokesperson Tandi Mapukata says the students attended a ‘10-10- 2020 Bash’ earlier this month.
"Most of the students that tested positive are from the nursing science faculty and to a lesser degree the law faculty.
To date, the university has recorded 33 active cases in a space of a week. This number includes two staff members. The Covid-19 positive students are quarantined and isolated at the Alice campus where the university had set aside a residence with 134 rooms.”
She says students who attended the parties confirmed that they ignored lockdown regulations.
"Patrons who were at the tavern were allegedly more than 300 in number, some allegedly been drinking from one bottle and dancing close to one another.”
She says the two students who tested positive subsequently went home.
"Tracing teams in both districts, Buffalo City and Joe Gqabi, were able to locate them. Higher Education has been alerted of the developments in Fort Hare University.”
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