Zimbabwe’s Government has ordered Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) to close after a lecturer tested positive for covid-19.
The state institution was among the earliest to open its doors to returning students after a Covid-19 induced hiatus.
Speaking to media at a press briefing in Harare communicating the Covid-19 task force resolutions Information Minister Mutsvangwa said the institution should tie loose ends immediately and send students home.
She said:
Following the recorded infection at the Chinhoyi University of Technology and in line with the guidelines for the re-opening of Universities and Colleges, The Taskforce resolved that the said institution undertake all necessary and sensible steps to close.
This follows reports last week that one of the institution’s lecturers tested positive for Covid-19.
Students at the institution said since the news circulated on social media sometime this week, they are now living in fear of contracting the virus.
Some of the students said they were considering approaching the institution’s administrators for temporary closure to allow the disinfection of the premises.
The unnamed CUT lecturer, allegedly from the School of Business Management, is said to have tested positive in Harare.
Makonde District medical officer, Dr. Paradzai Mudzengerere, confirmed the case was tested in Harare.
At the time he said that they were in the process of engaging the institution’s administration so that they can get permission to do contact tracing of people who were in contact with the unnamed lecturer.
Dr. Mudzengerere said:
The information we got from Harare is that the lecturer was tested in Harare and was found to be positive. Right now, as the Ministry of Health, we are engaging Chinhoyi University to do some contact tracing for people who were in contact with him. Officials from Harare have done contact tracing of some people he was in contact with. We are engaging the university to give us the go ahead to do the contact tracing.
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