Chula Welcomes Students Back and Announces Health and Safety Precautions on Campus

On Monday, 10 August 2020, Chulalongkorn University welcomed back students for the first day of academic year 2020.  Prior to the reopening, standard measures for health and safety on campus have been released and implemented to prevent, protect, and provide health care and recovery treatments for use during the Covid-19 situation, as required by the state.

Although the learning environment will be quite different this year due to the spread of Covid-19, Chulalongkorn University is ready to welcome most students back on campus with preventive measures and action plans to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, faculty members, and staff.  These measures can be divided into three categories: prevention, protection, and health care and recovery.

As addressed by Professor Bundhit Eua-arporn, President of Chulalongkorn University, part of the University’s vision is to become the institute for innovations for society.  Therefore, as the first Covid-19 case was reported in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University responded immediately as different departments came together to develop innovations that would help prevent and handle the Covid-19 outbreak.  For instance, while surgical masks were in demand nationwide, the development of the Shield+ Spray has helped to improve the performance of fabric masks.  Telemedicine Robots have been adapted to cater to Covid-19 patients and UV Sterilizer Boxes are being used to disinfect medical devices and equipment.  Last, Hydrogen Peroxide Sprayers have been used to disinfect the air and surface materials.

On the protection side, Chulalongkorn University is applying strict hygiene measures on campus.  All key facilities and areas have been revamped with a better ventilation system and regularly sanitized.  Frequent touchpoints and shared classroom tools and materials are cleaned with disinfectants, while the number of students per area will also be limited to avoid crowds.

Additionally, the University will regularly promote the Five Safety Principles to students to ensure their safety and well-being.  These principles include:

1. Monitor your health. If you feel sick, inform your professor and seek medical attention immediately.
2. Always check-in and check-out of every classroom and building through the ThaiChana application.
3. Measure your temperature upon entry to buildings and wear the sticker provided by the faculty/department.
4. Always wear a mask and wash your hands regularly.
5. Practice social-distancing.

Regarding the teaching and learning for Academic Year 2020, many parents and students have expressed their concerns on the safety of studying on campus or the equal opportunity to online learning.  In this regard, Professor Bundhit Eua-arporn reassures that the university has brought out measures to reduce the disparity in accessing basic education and learning tools.  5,000 SIM cards have been distributed to students that need help with access to the internet for online learning and scholarships have been offered to students affected from Covid-19.  Moreover, the classes, examinations, and internships for the first semester of 2020 will be offered through blended learning, which is highly flexible and should be adapted based on the need and discretion of each faculty, with priority on the safety and hygiene of students and faculty members.

Nonetheless, Professor Bundhit is aware of the difficult situation that some students and professors may have with the scheduling of on campus and online classes.  He urges students and teachers to be patient with the need for social distancing, which is a means for society to get through this epidemic quickly and safely.  The University is also working hard to find larger activity spaces for students.  Some of the spaces that are well ventilated and can accommodate social distancing include:

1. The foyer under the Boromrajakumari Building (capacity of 100 people)
2. The foyer under the Mahitaladhibesra Building (capacity of 148 people)
3. They foyer under the Borommaratchachonnanisrisattaphat Building (capacity of 70 people)
4. The foyer under Chula Pat 13 (capacity of 36 people)
5. The foyer under Chula Pat 14 (capacity of 82 people)
6. The foyer under the Chaloem Rajakumari 60 Building (capacity of 48 people)
7. Chamchuri 9 building (capacity of 600 people)
8. CU Plearn Space at Prem Purachatra Building (capacity of 50 people)
9. CU Plearn Space at Witthayaphatthana Building (capacity of 110 people)
10. Chakrapong Square (capacity of 100 people)
11. Pinit Prachanart Building (capacity of 240 people)
12. CU Library (capacity of 1000+ people)

The University has also worked hard to create innovations that will help the community, such as the Chula COVID-19 Strip Test, negative pressure cabinets for collecting specimen, positive pressure car, and telemedicine robots to protect medical practitioners from contamination.  Most recently, Chulalongkorn University has taken the lead in developing an mRNA-type Covid-19 vaccine, and a vaccine made from protein of tobacco leaves.

Moreover, the Chulalongkorn Health Center at Chamchuri 9 is facilitating and providing preliminary diagnosis free of charge for the CU community.  If students, faculty members or staff start to feel ill or have Covid-19 like symptoms, they should visit a doctor immediately to get tested.

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