In response to the deteriorating outbreak, community colleges, senior learning centers, new immigrant learning centers, community diverse learning centers and adult basic education classes have been postponed until after April 15, while classes at community colleges borrowing venues from municipal schools are also postponed until after May 5. Activities at the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau's cultural center have also been canceled or postponed and venue management efforts have been bolstered. Additionally, classes at evergreen academies are suspended immediately in the hope of containing the outbreak.
According to the Education Bureau, lifelong learning institutions such as community colleges, senior learning centers, new immigrant learning centers and diverse community learning centers have been instructed to ascertain the travel history of their teaching staff after the classes are reopened, while outbreak prevention measures such as measuring the students' body temperatures before entering the class and disinfection must also be carried out.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau pointed out that in relation to the borrowing or renting of cultural center venues, some groups have canceled or postponed their performances, activities and forums. From March to June this year, approximately 35 performances and activities have been canceled, 10 have been postponed and 197 forums have been postponed. Additionally, for small forums and activities that are being organized as usual, the number of participants must be less than 100 for indoor activities and no more than 500 for outdoor activities as stipulated by the Central Epidemic Command Center.
Furthermore, festivals hosted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau including the Taichung Mazu International Festival, Taichung Children's Arts Festival, and Taichung City Seaport Art Center 20th Anniversary Celebrations will be postponed or canceled.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that buildings under the Cultural Affairs Bureau such as the cultural center and library have already implemented advance deployment in conjunction with reinforced venue management. All frontline employees and volunteers coming in contact with the public must wear surgical masks, while building entrances are equipped with hand sanitizers and body forehead thermometers. Citizens are advised to wear a surgical mask before entering the buildings, while the offices, performance halls, elevators and toilets are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Moreover, the Social Affairs Bureau commented that considering the age of students at evergreen academies and the crowding in indoor classrooms, to prevent infection caused by close-range contact, classes for the first semester have been canceled, and adjustments will be made depending on the outbreak situation in the future. During the class suspension period, outbreak prevention efforts at various evergreen academies will be bolstered. For the refunding of senior citizens' tuition fees and registration fees, as well as information on course postponement and the closing/opening of classes at evergreen academies, please contact various Taichung City district offices or refer to the Taichung City Evergreen Academy Course Information System (https://bit.ly/3dsmnce).