Geographic and Covid-19 Epidemic of Udon Thani Rajabhat University

Abstract

Covid-19 epidemic in Thailand started at the beginning of 2020. Since then, the Thai Society has faced the coming of the epidemic and has to adapt for survival from this situation as soon as possible. Udon Thani Rajabhat University is one of the universities that has been greatly affected by this situation. This is because the university is a large social group in which a large number of people get together especially students. This affects an increase of buildings to accommodate various activities of a large group of students. Therefore, it is the source of an area prone to disease outbreaks. Students’ behaviors could also have resulted in the occurrence of a high risk group. Based on the information of risk of pandemic in the university area provided by 90 students. The impact in the past 3 years has obviously seen related to the change of teaching and learning styles, the decrease of social interaction among individuals to reduce the risk of exposure to stop the epidemic. However, this practice has resulted in a less efficient teaching and learning. Besides the impact on teaching and learning, other effects on the mental health and lifestyle of students and staff on campus have also been found. Other reported effects include higher risk of depression, and lack of socialization among friends and colleagues. The importance of geography shows the map of spatial risk of COVID-19 pandemic around the university area. This shows the spatial relation to enhance understanding and make the management plan. In the future, surveillance of the pandemic still needs to be carried out in order to gain as much confidence as possible to prevent a recurrence of the disease. This also depends on the measures of places in prevention in conjunction with the practice of the people to know how to take care of themselves.