Chonnam National University Implements Level 3 COVID-19 Measures Including Library Reading Room Closure

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Chonnam National University has decided to temporarily close the library reading rooms used by both students and the general public.

On the 28th, Chonnam National University announced that it has prepared a Level 3 response plan for COVID-19 and will implement it proactively.

The Chonnam National University COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee (Chairman Jeong Byeongseok) decided to temporarily close the annex of the Central Library (commonly known as Baekdo), which has a total of 2,900 seats including student and public reading rooms and group study rooms, from the 29th until the 15th of next month, just before the start of the semester.

The main building of the Central Library (commonly known as Hongdo) will only carry out book lending services during this period, and entry will be restricted.

Despite concerns over the impact of COVID-19, and efforts to accommodate about 1,000 daily users including students and citizens until the last moment, the situation has worsened, leading to the unavoidable decision to temporarily close.

Additionally, the sports center next to the back gate, which is frequently accessed by students, citizen members, and especially nearby pedestrians for restroom use, will also be closed temporarily, and the museum exhibition hall will remain closed until the situation is resolved. The central club rooms and the student council office have also been temporarily closed.

Along with this, preparations are underway to establish countermeasures for various situations that may arise with the semester starting in two weeks.

Since the 28th of last month, right after the Lunar New Year holiday, Chonnam National University has been operating the emergency response committee, proactively implementing measures such as setting up a screening clinic and securing separate spaces for visitors from China, as well as various disinfection and personal hygiene support measures, and so far, no symptomatic cases have been reported.

Meanwhile, although about 300 Chinese international students were expected to return intensively between the 24th and 28th, their arrival schedules have been delayed, and sporadic arrivals are expected to continue.

The number of Chinese international students taking leave of absence in the past two months is only 20, of which only 2 are graduate students, so the delay in arrival has not yet led to leave of absence or withdrawal from enrollment.

A Chonnam National University official said, “With systematic management centered on the emergency response committee, relatively calm and stable daily life continues. However, since the national alert level is at a serious stage, and especially because there are contamination risk facilities scattered around the university, we will do our best to maintain a ‘Clean Chonnam National University’ with a more vigilant attitude together with the quarantine authorities.”