Change the world

18/01/2021

With a new, more transmissible, variant of the coronavirus spreading and adjusted level 3 restrictions in place, Nelson Mandela University is increasingly seeking ways to improve health and safety measures for staff, students and visitors on its campuses.

New interventions

To this end, the following new interventions have been introduced:

  • A temporary gate system has been erected at the South Campus main entrance to enable screening of both vehicle passengers and pedestrians. This new system enables the University to manage entry times via South Campus gates. To ensure that screening control is ongoing, staff, students and visitors will, at times, need to enter South Campus via North Campus.
  • Access to all campuses will be via its main entrance only, bar Second Avenue Campus. This is to ensure that the necessary screening, hand sanitising and monitoring of numbers is accurately captured and that the safety of staff, students and visitors is consistently prioritised.
  • Second Avenue will now have access points at both its main and Fifth Avenue entrances to accommodate those who are entering on foot.
  • All alternative access points on all seven campuses in Port Elizabeth and George have been shut. Entrances created for construction projects may not be used by staff and students.
  • Additional support from health service providers has been secured for screening processes.  

Work from home
As before, all staff should continue to work from home where this is possible. Line managers of those who need to be on campus should consider rotational, shift and staggered start options in line with their operations to minimize the numbers of people on campus at any one time.

Please be reminded that extraordinary measures are to be put in place for vulnerable staff member, as has been defined.

Visitors
Visitors to campus should be discouraged.  The University is working hard to offer online and other alternatives to those, for example, seeking financial aid options, career guidance or assistance in finding accommodation. Additional communication to follow.  

Screening processes 2021
Line managers should arrange in advance an initial return-to-campus screening session for staff members by booking with occupationalhealth@mandela.ac.za.

Thereafter, the same practices apply upon entering campus for staff, students and visitors.

  • Scan your staff card (if your card has not been activated, please urgently contact theo.zeelie@mandela.ac.za)
  • Show the results of your online COVID-19 screening tool to staff on duty https://webapps.mandela.ac.za/screening. Please complete the survey at home via the link before coming to work to speed up processes at the gate
  • Have your temperature taken and hands sanitised before proceeding to your place of employ

Divisional Screening

Many divisions have also introduced their own screening processes to further protect staff members as part of their new job-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the present lockdown period. This screening entails purchasing a temperature tool for the department and persistent online or paper tracking of screening data.

               Entrance Screening
In addition, screening and sanitising processes are in place when entering certain key buildings and facilities.

Adjusted Level 3 restrictions
While the protocols of 2020 still apply, staff are now also directly responsible for wearing a mask. Failure to adhere to this or any other COVID-19 compliance measures can lead to disciplinary action internally and with the State.

The only other adjustments made by the Presidency earlier this week relate to the curfew – now from 9pm to 5am, and the closing of borders for all non-essential travel. International students will be able to return following stringent compliance measures. For more go to the coronavirus website on www.mandela.ac.za/coronavirus.

Going forward
As with 2020, there is no telling what lies ahead in terms of the global pandemic. What we do know, however, is that only our collective effort will enable us to continue to save lives, save the 2020 academic year and welcome a new cohort of students in 2021.

Coronavirus Task Team

Contact information
Mrs Debbie Derry
Deputy Director: Communication
Tel: 041 504 3057
debbie.derry@mandela.ac.za