SARS Situation Still Severe in Beijing: Acting Mayor

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 30, 2003

SARS Situation Still Severe in Beijing: Acting Mayor

Despite progress made in the battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the situation of SARS prevention and control remains severe in Beijing, Acting Mayor Wang Qishan said Wednesday.

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Despite progress made in the battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the situation of SARS prevention and control remains severe in Beijing, Acting Mayor Wang Qishan said Wednesday.

At a press conference on SARS prevention and control in Beijing, Wang said the number of both probable and suspect cases remains high, and sources of infection have not yet been cut off completely.

A shortage of beds in designated hospitals prevents suspect patients from being isolated timely and on a full scale, he said.

Much has to be done to appease the panic among some members of the general public and to ensure social stability.

Wang added the Beijing municipal government will, under the leadership of the central government, redouble efforts in medical treatment and in prevention and control.

As of 10 a.m. April 29, a total of 1,347 SARS cases had been reported in Beijing.

Beijing focuses on reducing mortality rate in SARS control

The municipal government of Beijing is focusing on reducing the mortality rate and the infection of medical workers in the current battle against the SARS disease, said the Acting Mayor.

The government also concentrates on increasing the number of patients who are hospitalized or have recovered after treatment, Wang told a press conference on the city's SARS prevention and control efforts.

Wang listed the government's major measures as follows:

-- All hospitals above Class II are required to ensure all probable or suspected SARS cases are treated timely;

-- A total of 15 hospitals have been designated to treat SARS patients;

-- A new SARS hospital is being built at Xiaotangshan in the suburbs, and Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital and Xuanwu Hospital have also be designated as SARS hospitals;

-- A high-grade professional medical team has been formed to treat the most serious cases;

-- Related experts of central government departments, other provinces and Beijing have been invited or mobilized to form teamsfor technical instruction, diagnosis and training of medical workers; and

-- Measures have been taken to protect medical workers, and to mobilize social resources to this end.

Beijing ready for more cooperation with WHO

Beijing is more than ready to increase exchange and cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in SARS prevention and control, Acting Mayor Wang Qishan said.

Wang said that On April 27, he and Liu Qi, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with WHO's representative in China Henk Bekedam and a WHO expert team.

The two sides reached a consensus on a broad range of issues concerning SARS prevention and control at the meeting.

"It is our hope that WHO would provide aids and guidance on SARS control and further cooperate with Beijing in SARS prevention and control," Wang said.

Beijing's SARS control efforts win public support

The highly transparent measures of the Beijing municipal government to make public the SARS situation and to combat the disease have won understanding and support from the general public, Wang said at the press conference on SARS prevention and control.

Wang said that all city government departments, especially those in charge of urban public services, have been making their utmost efforts inthe battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Strict epidemic prevention standards have been set to regulate sectors of public hygiene, garbage disposal, foodstuff and catering.

Market supply of daily necessities has been reinforced, and as a result, market price has been brought under control and panic buying that occurred in the city a couple of days ago has disappeared, the official said.

Wang said he is confident in wining the battle against SARS as the general public know more and more about the disease and the government takes increasingly strong measures against it.

Beijing builds city-wide epidemic prevention network

The Beijing municipal government is mobilizing all walks of life to build a city-wide epidemic prevention network in the current battle against SARS, Acting Mayor Wang Qishan said.

Wang said at the press conference the joint efforts of the whole society for epidemic prevention and control is the key to victory in the battle.

The government has called on schools, communities, towns, villages and grass-root social organizations to take measures for curbing the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

In urban areas, all communities have been organized so they canmake timely report on the local SARS situation to authorities concerned and keep an eye on the development of the situation of their neighbors.

In rural areas, each home has been offered a thermometer and farmers are required to take their temperature everyday.

In colleges and universities, classes will continue during the May Day festival and teachers and students will stay on campus, while workers at construction sites who are mostly from rural areas in the other parts of the country are told not to go home, as a measure to cut off the channels for virus spread, Wang said.

Strict quarantine inspections have been enforced on passengers in and out the city, and those found to be running a fever or have other symptoms will be sent to designated hospitals and fellow passengers aboard the same plane or other vehicles will be traced down or put under clinical observation.

Wang said the people in Beijing are sparing no effort to ensure the supply of water, coal, electricity and cooking gas.

Beijing to well manage SARS donations

Beijing can manage well donations for combating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said the Acting Mayor.

Beijing has so far received 70 million yuan of donations, Wang said. The city has put special financial and audit staff in chargeof the management of donations, Wang told a press briefing here, adding that the money will be used in accordance with donors' wishes.

Meanwhile, the city's financial department has already poured 400 million yuan in SARS prevention and treatment, Wang said.

No SARS case reported in Beijing's rural area

No SARS case, probable or suspected, had been reported in the rural area of Beijing as of April 29, Wang Qishan said.

He said that the government attaches great importance to the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in rural areas.

It is of vital importance to protect people in rural areas where medical care facilities are relatively poor and people know less about disease prevention.

To keep villagers free from SARS infection, Wang said, the government has sent personnel to villages to teach each farmer on disinfection and taking his or her temperature on a daily basis with a thermometer the government has provided.

Villagers are also required to cancel unnecessary gatherings. Plans have been made to deal with possible epidemic outbreak inrural areas, Wang said.

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