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15 July 2022 | Story Lacea Loader

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the lifting of the institution’s COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy with immediate effect.

“Since the declaration by the Government on 22 June 2022 that the COVID-19 regulations will be repealed, the UFS has conducted a risk assessment to determine the risk of exposure to staff and students. From the assessment, it was clear that the university’s COVID-19 infections are currently a low risk,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Factors that contributed to this low risk include the following:

  • No COVID-19 positive cases among UFS staff and students have been reported in the past month.
  • The high number of vaccinations among UFS stakeholders. In addition, the current national immunity level of the total South African population is high.
  • Certain faculties and postgraduate students are currently proceeding with hybrid/online learning, which minimises the risk of possible COVID-19 infections on the university’s three campuses.
  • In its correspondence of 23 June 2022, the UFS urged all staff and students to continue wearing masks should they have comorbidities and/or symptoms of illness, thus safeguarding other stakeholders.

“We believe that COVID-19 no longer poses an immediate threat to the safety of our staff and students, and that the pandemic is at a stage where they should take responsibility for their own safety. This can be mainly ascribed to the success of the implementation of the policy. Staff and students who still wish to wear masks are urged to do so at their own discretion. Those who have not yet been vaccinated against the virus and have no

known condition preventing them from doing so, are advised to get vaccinated for their own safety and protection,” said Prof Petersen.

The UFS COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy was approved by the University Council on 26 November 2021 and implemented on 6 December 2021. The university commenced restricting unvaccinated individuals from accessing its campuses as of 14 February 2022.

“If the national regulatory environment with respect to COVID-19 is changing to such an extent that the policy needs to be re-implemented, the university’s executive management will act accordingly, and hence the COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy remains a policy of the university as approved by the UFS Council on 26 November 2021.” said Prof Petersen.

 

Uplifting of the COVID-19 vaccination policy - mitigation strategies of the University of the Free State.

News Archive

New Visitors Centre opened
2015-01-05

From the left: Mamosa Makaya, Deputy Director: Integrated Communication; Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research; and Lacea Loader, Director: Communication and Brand Management at the opening of the Visitors Centre.

Welcoming point to the Bloemfontein Campus for national and international visitors

Each year our university welcomes numerous visitors onto the Bloemfontein Campus – be they conference delegates, prospective students, parents or service providers. As part of the university’s greater plan of access control and securing the campus for its staff, students and visitors, a Visitors Centre was built at the DF Malherbe gate. The Department of Communication and Brand Management officially opened the new Visitors Centre on 27 November 2014.

In partnership with Protection Services, visitors are now registered and issued with temporary cards to gain access to various parts of the campus. Visitors will also be able to obtain directions and a copy of the campus map at the centre.

The design of the building not only lends a modern, spacious feeling to the centre, but supports green energy as well. Also located at the Visitors Centre is the university switchboard which is the first point of contact for enquiries.

The centre will in future be the welcoming point for larger delegations and visiting groups, nationally and internationally.

For enquiries about the Visitors Centre contact: Mamosa Makaya, Deputy Director: Integrated Communication, at +27(0)51 401 9188 or email makayam@ufs.ac.za.

Visitors Centre front desk: +27(0)51 401 7766.

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