CHINESE universities have delayed the start of the new semester due to the coronavirus outbreak but are showing their support for students from the epicenter, Central China’s Hubei Province, by setting up special funds.

Sichuan University in Chengdu, southwest China, is granting outbreak subsidies to poverty-stricken students from Hubei.

According to the level of hardship, the subsidies could be 600 yuan (US$85.50), 1,000 yuan or 2,000 yuan. Students who have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus will be awarded a 3,000 yuan subsidy. This also applies to students whose immediate relatives were diagnosed.

Sun Yat-sen University in southern Guangdong Province is providing a 1,000 yuan subsidy for every student from Hubei. Other universities like South China Normal University, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University and Nanjing University have taken similar measures amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Students who received subsidies from universities expressed their gratitude. One student from Wuhan wrote on social media, “Isolation and quarantine during the outbreak make one lonely, but receiving attention from my school makes me feel warm and cared for.”

Besides the emotional support, some students said the money will help them greatly, since they can’t return home or their families don’t have any income due to the outbreak.

Intercity and provincial transportation have been suspended during the outbreak. The service industry has been impacted and some small enterprises have declared bankruptcy. The situation has impacted every family in the province. (CGTN)