Unilag considers going virtual amidst report of COVID-19 resurgence in varsity

By Modupe Shodeinde

The University of Lagos, UNILAG, has given indications of closing down the institution and adopting virtual lectures as new cases of COVID-19 break out amongst students.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe in a letter to members of the institution’s senate,which has circulated amongst students,has directed that an emergency meeting be held on Wednesday 14, 2021.

The agenda of the meeting is to discuss vacation of halls of residence by students and resumption of virtual learning.

This comes after several COVID-19 cases were reported among the students.

It was gathered that students have tested positive to the virus in different hostels in the university, the Eni Njoku hostel being one of them.

Also, authorities in the university have become more strict in enforcing the COVID-19 precautions amongst students, insisting on the use of face masks before entry into hostels is allowed.

The university’s medical centre on Tuesday, also issued a statement warning of the 3rd wave of the pandemic.

It reads: “The University of Lagos Medical Centre wishes to inform all members of the University of Lagos Community about what appears to be the start of a potential 3rd wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lagos State.

“The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu, in his press statement issued on July 11, 2021, stated that since the beginning of July there has been a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1% at the end of June 2021, to its current rate of 6.6% as at the 8th of July 2021. This is with a concurrent increase in the occupancy rate at Lagos State isolation centres.

“The University of Lagos community has also been affected by this potential 3rd wave, with an increase in the number of patients presented to the University of Lagos Medical Centre with flu-like symptoms which are similar to COVID-19.”

The Lagos Street Journal had earlier reported how positive cases of COVID-19 were detected in Amina hostel, and other hostels in the university.

The varsity management in a letter on 5th of July had given directives to students and staff members on how to handle the covid 19 outbreak.