I trust you had a relaxing break and that you are ready to tackle 2022 with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Thank you again for all your hard work and commitment last year. Your resilience made a meaningful contribution to the success of our institution in 2021.

With the changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations, as approved by Cabinet on 30 December 2021, and the significant decrease in associated risks, we are now able to relax some workplace restrictions. I am therefore asking staff to return to the office for at least four days a week. When you are back, please remember to remain vigilant and adhere to all the stipulated COVID-19 protocols: wearing a mask, regularly sanitising your hands and maintaining a social distance. It is important that you look after the safety and well-being of yourself and others.

Towards the end of last year, we were devising a plan to ensure the safe opening of our campuses, and we hope to finish the consultation process by the end of the month, after which we will make a further announcement.

In the meantime, I encourage those who are eligible to get their booster shots and those who are partly or not yet vaccinated to do so before the end of the month. We would like everyone to be vaccinated. Vaccines protect everyone’s health and significantly reduce severe illness, hospitalisation and death. They are safe – those who have doubts or are hesitant should seek more information from medical experts, including staff at our Faculty of Health Sciences.

I look forward to welcoming you back on campus.

Prof Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal

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University of Pretoria COVID-19 information, click: https://www.up.ac.za/coronavirus-updates 

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Updating how we communicate internally, click: https://www.up.ac.za/news/post_3044687-updating-how-we-communicate-internally