As promised last year, the University of Pretoria (UP) is planning to open its campuses again as more COVID-19 restrictions are eased, more contact learning and teaching opportunities become possible and levels of vaccination increase. Of course, this will be done within current COVID-19 protocols and in line with all relevant regulations.

Our aim is to once again be able to offer our students and staff a complete UP experience in a safe environment.

Under current regulations, gatherings and the use of venue capacity remain restricted. Within this context, and in the interest of the safety and well-being of staff and students, we have devised a plan to enable students to attend classes physically on campus, where practically possible, to ensure optimal learning.

With the start of the new semester on 21 February 2022, all UP facilities – including social learning spaces, libraries, residences and sporting facilities – will be open to students. On-campus classes for certain programmes will resume with strict adherence to COVID-19 regulations and protocols. First-year students who reside in university-managed residences will have arrived on 5 February for orientation, which ends on 13 February.

All faculty modes-of-instruction plans and other related arrangements will have been communicated to students (by faculties).

When deciding on the modes of instruction for various modules, faculties will prioritise tutorials and practical classes (including laboratory and clinical classes, studio work, postgraduate classes and supervision, and first- and/or final-year classes).

These plans can be adjusted depending on the alert levels and accompanying regulations as announced by the government. I know this is not ideal, but it is in the interest of everyone’s safety and well-being, and it is important that we do everything we can to resume with some sense of normalcy.

At this stage, we are not planning to make vaccinations compulsory (unless it becomes national law and we must comply), although the risk assessment process has identified areas of operation such as in Health Sciences where vaccination is required. Risk assessment is an ongoing process, and we will be required to adjust our position at short notice to address identified risks or adapt to national or sectoral imperatives. Through HigherHealth, we also expect the Department of Higher Education to issue further guidelines in the coming weeks.

Once again, I would like to encourage everyone to get vaccinated. Vaccines protect everyone’s health and significantly reduce severe illness, hospitalisation and death. Vaccines are safe. Those who have doubts or are hesitant should seek more information from medical experts, including staff from our Faculty of Health Sciences. I appeal to all of you to become persuasive UP vaccination ambassadors.

Please continue to wear a mask in public, wash your hands thoroughly and adhere to physical distancing measures. And remember to complete the HigherHealth HealthCheck digital screening platform daily for COVID-19 symptoms. The platform is free and available in various languages on the web, via SMS or on WhatsApp.

Access the HealthCheck app by way of four options:

1. Go to http://healthcheck.higherhealth.ac.za

2. Dial *134*832*2#

3. Add 0600 1100 00 to your WhatsApp contacts and follow the prompts.

4. Access the HealthCheck through the UP app, which is available to download.

Together we can make this work. I kindly request that you look after not only your own safety but also that of others around you.

We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our plans where and if necessary.

Prof Tawana Kupe