Wuhan university apologizes for rash treatment of students' belongings

Wuhan Vocational College of Software and Engineering issued an apology letter on Monday for mishandling students' belongings.

The school is one of more than 10 universities and vocational schools in Wuhan transformed into temporary wards for novel coronavirus pneumonia patients and suspected cases, Beijing News reported on Monday.

But video clips went viral online recently showing student dorms were emptied and all students' belongings tossed outside, which triggered worries and criticism.

In the apology letter the school said it only had two days to turn the dormitories into wards, and there was mishandling of belongings due to the limited time.

The school will repay students for any financial losses, and it will conduct the strictest sterilization on all dormitories once the patients leave, it said.

Starting last week, at least two universities and 11 vocational schools have been requisitioned for the fight against the highly contagious virus.

Some were used to accommodate suspected cases under medical observation, while others were adapted into makeshift hospitals for confirmed patients with mild symptoms.

Chen Xin, head of the publicity department at Wuhan Institute of Shipbuilding Technology, one of the first schools requisitioned, said lack of experience has caused some problems when removing students' belongings at first, but over the past few days students' belongings have been properly handled and kept safe from possible cross-contamination of the virus.

The time given was too short -- the university was notified on Feb 5 and teachers and volunteers had to start organizing dormitories and moving students' personal belongings on Feb 6. On Feb 7 all daily necessities for patients have been put in place at dormitories, and patients with mild symptoms and suspected patients started moving into the dormitories that night, Chen said.

The university notified all students on Feb 6, and most students understand why their dormitories have been turned into wards, Chen said, adding the university has made sure their personal belongings are properly stored.