Zhengzhou Aviation Industry Management University Alumni Association "Difficult Time in On-Campus Quarantine... Need Help"
Zhengzhou Huanghe Academy, Students Launch Mass Escape After Decision to Return Home Following 'Eligibility Review'
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] At a university in Zhengzhou, China, which has been locked down due to the spread of COVID-19, a public appeal was made to request support amid shortages of supplies. Earlier, students at another university in Zhengzhou caused a commotion by attempting to escape the school out of fear of COVID-19 infection.
On the 10th (local time), according to Health Times, affiliated with the Communist Party's People's Daily, the alumni association of Zhengzhou University of Aeronautical Industry Management stated in an open letter that "30,000 faculty members and students are quarantined on campus and going through a difficult time." They also added, "There is a shortage of quarantine supplies and daily necessities, and funds are tight," and included bank account numbers and addresses for donations, appealing for help from alumni as well as various individuals, companies, and organizations. Photos of supplies sent to the school by companies such as China Construction Bank were also released.
A professor at Zhengzhou University of Aeronautical Industry Management explained, "Everything in the letter is true," adding, "The university has been locked down for a week, and staff and students are staying on campus, relying on delivery food for meals and conducting classes online." The professor further stated, "Both quarantine supplies and daily necessities are insufficient," and emphasized, "The goods and donations are for the faculty and students."
Most Chinese university students live in dormitories. Universities operate under closed management to block contact with the outside when COVID-19 spreads in the region or on campus. This university was also locked down for quarantine purposes, and as the period extended, it experienced shortages of supplies. It is rare for such a public appeal for support due to supply shortages to be made.
The speed of COVID-19 spread in China is accelerating again. Chinese quarantine authorities announced on the 7th that the number of new confirmed cases was 7,475. This represents an increase of about 2,000 cases compared to the previous day. In Zhengzhou, Henan Province, which is known to have about 700,000 university students, COVID-19 is spreading massively, with recent new infections reaching four digits.
At Zhengzhou Huanghe Academy, the largest private university in China with 30,000 enrolled students, news emerged on the 8th that 1,200 people on campus were infected with COVID-19, leading to a mass escape attempt by students. The university decided on early vacation on the 8th due to the spread of COVID-19 on campus, and about half of the students left the school that morning.
However, from the afternoon, the university changed its stance, stating that students would be selectively sent home after eligibility screening. In response, students began breaking through security, jumping over fences and barricades to leave the campus. The roads around the area became heavily congested due to students leaving by vehicle.
However, most students were reportedly caught at Zhengzhou Station and returned to the university. The university stated, "Students who applied for leave in advance were able to leave the school without any problems," and "There are only eight confirmed cases on campus, and most students who left without permission have returned."
Earlier, workers at Foxconn, the world's largest Apple iPhone production base, were captured walking back to their hometowns after escaping a factory locked down due to COVID-19 last month. At that time, it was reported that workers had to travel on foot because they could not use public transportation such as buses or trains due to government quarantine measures.
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