In any UFS building, staff and students are required to wear masks in the presence of a third party and/or while attending a meeting or gathering. In the event of meetings or gatherings, the parties should, as far as possible, ensure adequate ventilation. 

No individual will be compelled to wear a mask when outdoors. However, it is strongly recommended that staff and students wear masks when in the company of multiple persons.

Yes. All staff, registered students, and visitors must continue with the standard hygiene protocol.

Yes. Good ventilation and being in open-air spaces are encouraged. 

Yes. The UFS is planning for the return of all staff to campus in 2022 in a way that minimises risk. 

Yes. The UFS is planning for the return of all registered students in 2022 in a way that minimises risk. Classes will be presented on campus in 2022, except for a few qualifications and modules that will be presented in a blended format – with some modules online, and some modules presented face to face. 

Please note that registered students will be informed by their  faculty whether they are required to return to campus in 2022.

No – in the case of staff and students. If vaccinated, you will access campus with a permanent QR code and your staff/student access card. If you are not vaccinated but have received exemption or have submitted a valid negative PCR test, you will use the UFS gate screening process to obtain a QR code on a daily basis. 

Non-staff and non-student visitors, such as contractors and service providers, will submit a request for a temporary permit to the relevant authorised person, which, once granted, will allow them to submit their proof of vaccination and subsequently obtain a temporary QR code.

- Non-compliance with the COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy and failure to provide the necessary documentation (i.e., staff/student access card, QR code, refusal to have temperature reading taken when not vaccinated, etc.) will lead to a refusal of access to campus.

- No QR code, no access.

- No mask, no access.

Upload your vaccination certificate, receive a QR code, wear a mask, present your QR code and student/staff access card at the gate. Random screening spot checks may apply. You may enter campus through the following gates:

Bloemfontein Campus:
Staff and students with temporary QR codes now enter at any gate on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Qwaqwa Campus:
Main Gate

South Campus:
Main Gate

A. Staff members and students who have applied for exemption from the policy: 
Staff members and registered students who are not vaccinated and who have applied for exemption must ensure that their exemption letters issued by the Vaccination Exemption Committee are uploaded to the UFS system. This will then be linked to their daily COVID-19 screening questionnaire, which must be completed daily. Before entering the campus, the staff member or registered student must present his/her campus access card, be subjected to temperature screening, and the QR code of the COVID-19 screen questionnaire must be presented and scanned. The staff or registered student card is mandatory, and the security officers will not open the gate to staff or students who do not have access cards. Staff members and registered students must thus ensure that they have access cards that are in a working condition. 

B. Natural immunity after contracting COVID-19:
Staff members and registered students who are not vaccinated, but who have recently tested positive for SARS-COV-19 (COVID-19), must apply for a deferral/exemption based on their natural immunity. It must be noted that this exemption will only be valid for a maximum of three months. Individuals may apply for an extension of a further three months upon submission of an antibody test indicating that their antibodies are still at an acceptable level. These staff members and students will thus also have to apply for exemption / deferral, which is to be issued by the Vaccination Exemption Committee. Applications for exemptions / deferrals must be uploaded to the UFS system (and will have the same effect as a vaccination certificate, although this will be of a temporary nature). These individuals will then also receive a QR code that will be provided through the UFS system and will be allowed on campus after presenting a UFS staff or student access card (security officers will not open the gates to staff or students, and as such, staff members and registered students must ensure that they have an access card in a working condition) and after the QR code has been scanned by an authorised officer. This category of individuals will be subjected to screening on entering the UFS campuses.

C. Staff members and students who have a SARS (COVID-19) PCR negative test or Antigen test result: 
To access campus, staff members and registered students who are not vaccinated and who do not have an exemption letter issued by the Vaccination Exemption Committee, must upload a negative SARS (COVID-19) PCR test or Antigen test to the UFS system on a weekly basis.  This will then be linked to their daily COVID-9 screening questionnaire, which must be completed on a daily basis.  Before entering the campus, the staff member or registered student must present his/her campus access card, be subjected to temperature screening, and the QR code of the COVID-19 screen questionnaire must be presented and scanned. The staff or student access card is mandatory, and the security officers will not open the gates to staff or registered students who do not have access cards. Staff members and registered students must thus ensure that they have an access card that is in a working condition. 

Staff members and registered students who do not comply with these provisions will not be granted access to campus.

Access on the Bloemfontein Campus
Staff and students with permanent and temporary QR codes now enter at any gate on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Access on the Qwaqwa campus:
Main Gate

Access on the South Campus:
Main Gate

(Visitors include day visitors, ad hoc contractors, visiting sports teams, spectators at sporting events, and audience members at concerts and performances)

Unvaccinated visitors are not allowed on campus, but the UFS reserves the right to grant unvaccinated visitors access to campus based on approval by the Rectorate and the issuance of a campus access permit, for which an application must be submitted at least seven days prior to the visit by the relevant dean or head of the support service department. The permit will be issued by the office of the Senior Director: Protection Services, based on the approval of the Rectorate. Ad hoc contractors / emergency repair workers who are not vaccinated, must also have a campus access permit issued by the office of the Senior Director: University Estates, indicating the reason for entry. These individuals will still need to complete the COVID-19 screening questionnaire, be subjected to temperature screening, and must present the campus access permit prior to entering the campus. 

VACCINATED: 
Upload your vaccination certificate, receive a QR code, wear a mask, present your QR. Random screening spot checks may apply. You may enter campus through the following vehicle access gates and turnstiles: 

Bloemfontein Campus:
Gates
- Gate 1 – Main Gate:  This gate will operate 24/7.
- Gate 2 – Roosmaryn Gate:  The gate will operate from 06:00 to 18:00 daily during weekdays and is closed on weekends and public holidays.
- Gate 3 – Medical Gate:  This gate will operate 24/7.
- Gate 5 – Visitors Centre / Agriculture Gate:  The gate will operate from 06:00 to 20:00 daily during weekdays and is closed on weekends and public holidays.
- Gate 6 – Faculty of Health Sciences Delivery Gate (this entrance will only be operational for staff members of the Faculty of Health Sciences who make use of the parking area).

Turnstiles 
- The turnstile next to the exit lanes of the Main Gate (a dedicated gate will be in operation for this purpose).
- The turnstile at the Roosmaryn Gate.
- The turnstile known as JBM / Beyers Naude Residence at Unilofts (two lines will be established, but preference will be given to vaccinated users of the gate).
- The turnstile at the Medical Gate.
- The turnstile at the Visitors Centre / Agriculture Gate (two lines will be established, but preference will be given to vaccinated users of the gate).

Qwaqwa Campus:
A dedicated gate and turnstile will be assigned at the Main Gate of the campus, which will be operated on a 24/7 basis (preference will be given to vaccinated users of the gate).

South Campus:
The Main Gate.

UNVACCINATED: 
Workers of contracted service providers and lessees and their employees who have UFS access cards, but who are not vaccinated, will not be allowed to enter campus as per the access requirements of the UFS.

Your international vaccination will now be sent for approval. After approval, you will be able to download your permanent QR code.

This is a once-off step and will require you to follow the screen prompts on either your cell phone or any other electronic device you may be using.

For technical support with uploading certificates or the gate screening process, contact the ICT Services Helpdesk: +27 51 401 2000.

Let’s Start!

STEP 1: Click on the UFS gate screening link (https://www.ufs.ac.za/covid19screening), or access the link on the UFS website.

STEP 2: Once the COVID-19 screening application opens, you will be prompted to either select the staff or student profile. Selecting any one of these two profiles will prompt you to log in with your UFS username and password. If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset it by navigating to https://selfservice.ufs.ac.za/.

 Click here to view complete steps (Page 11)

This is a once-off step and will require you to follow the screen prompts on either
your cell phone or any other electronic device you may be using.

For technical support with uploading certificates or the gate screening process, contact the ICT Services Helpdesk: +27 51 401 2000.

Let’s Start!

STEP 1: Click on the UFS gate screening link (https://www.ufs.ac.za/covid19screening, or access the link on the UFS website.

STEP 2: Once the COVID-19 screening application opens, you will be prompted to either select the staff or student profile. Selecting any one of these two profiles will prompt you to log in with your UFS username and password.

If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset it by navigating to https://selfservice.ufs.ac.za/.

 Click here view full steps (Page 14)

The  COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy will take effect from 14 February 2022. 

Registered students who have not been vaccinated by the COVID-19 vaccination deadline, can register for the academic year, but do so in the knowledge that they would have to be physically on campus to attend class, complete tests, examinations, and other assessments. Such attendance will only be possible if the student is fully vaccinated, subject to the measures set out in the COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy.

Yes, if you want to access campus. 

Medical objections, religious objections, natural immunity objection, legally acceptable objections, participants in SAHPRA-approved clinic trials. Details of these exemptions are available in the COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy. 

This is a once-off step and will require you to follow the screen prompts on either
your cell phone or any other electronic device you may be using.

For technical support, contact the ICT Services Helpdesk: +27 51 401 2000.

Let’s Start! 

STEP 1: Click on the UFS gate screening link (https://www.ufs.ac.za/covid19screening), or access the link on the UFS website.

STEP 2: Once the COVID-19 screening application opens, you will be prompted to either select the staff or student profile. Selecting any one of these two profiles will prompt you to log in with your UFS username and password. 

If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset it by navigating to https://selfservice.ufs.ac.za/.

 Click here to view complete steps (Page 16)

This is a once-off step and will require you to follow the screen prompts on either your cell phone or any other electronic device you may be using.

For technical support, contact ICT Services Helpdesk: +27 51 401 2000

 Let’s Start! 
  
STEP 1: Click on the UFS gate screening link or access the link on the UFS website.

If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset it by navigating to https://selfservice.ufs.ac.za/.

Click here to view complete steps (Page 28)

All requests are pending until applicants receive notice of approval or denial. If no decision has been made by 14 February 2022, applicants must comply with these protective guidelines:

- Submit proof of a weekly SARS COVID-19 PCR test at their own cost to their human resources business partner, line manager, and compliance officer via the UFS Gate Screening app. These SARS COVID-19 PCR tests should be submitted weekly from 14 February 2022 by all employees, ad hoc contract workers, and registered students who have not been vaccinated. These tests may be conducted during regular working hours (unless there is another reason for exemption approved by the relevant manager and VEC).

- Provide a SARS COVID-19 PCR negative test before returning to work following any travel for 24 hours or more. These tests may be obtained during regular working hours. 
- Uphold all campus protocol, including sanitising and wearing a mask while on campus.

Individuals who are denied exemption shall have fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of notification of the decision to receive the vaccine (either a single-dose vaccine or the first dose of the two-dose vaccine).

Please do not access our campuses if you have the following symptoms:

- Temperature of ≥ 38°
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Changes in the ability to smell or taste
- Severe headache
- Body aches
- Diarrhoea
- Weakness

Or if you had confirmed close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual in the past 10 days.

Any employee, ad hoc contract worker, or registered student who suspects that they might have contracted COVID-19, should immediately inform Kovsie Health and, in respect of employees and ad hoc contract workers, their relevant line manager. The employee, ad hoc contract worker, or student concerned will be required to undergo a SARS COVID-19 PCR test if recommended by Kovsie Health and remain in quarantine for 10 (ten) calendar days. 

Contact details: +27 51 401 2603 | +27 51 401 3537 | VorsterC1@ufs.ac.za | DuPlooyT@ufs.ac.za

No. Individuals who test positive for SARS COVID-19 PCR will not be permitted to access the campuses until they have either received a SARS COVID-19 PCR negative test result or after expiry of the 10 (ten)-day isolation period.

To live in on-campus residences, registered students must be vaccinated.