The fear of contracting SARS has changed people's lifestyle and attitude, a survey of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou residents revealed.

In the random survey of 314 residents in the three cities, Horizon Research Group discovered that intimate contact, such as kissing and hugging, is on the wane. In Beijing, about one-fifth of those surveyed no longer share a bed or a meal with family members.

The survey covered residents aged between 18 years and 60 years and has an error margin of 5 percent.

According to the Shanghai Statistics Bureau, 77 percent of local residents didn't shop downtown during the Labor Day holidays, while 90 percent of them didn't dine out. Less than 1 percent of the people surveyed traveled to other provinces.

About 95 percent of Shanghai residents surveyed said they have confidence in the government's effort to control SARS, but 79 percent of them were worried that the city's economy may be hit hard by the outbreak.

Most people admired the work done by the medical workers and about 80 percent of them expressed their willingness to be volunteers in the fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome.

"The brave doctors and nurses give me sense of safety," said Zhang Bei with General Electric Co in Shanghai.

But the SARS outbreak has made people more aware of their hygiene.

"Nowadays, I dare not cough in public or I will feel isolated," said Zhang.

People also treasure life more and not take things for granted like they perhaps did before the SARS outbreak. About half the respondents surveyed have decided not to let trivial issues affect them whether at work or at home.

"When you lose something, you tend to cherish it more," said Zheng Jun, an official with Titan Holdings Co Ltd in Guangzhou.

Horizon Research concluded that those with SARS symptoms have no way to escape or hide as more than 90 percent of the people will report to the government if symptoms like fever and cough occur in neighborhood or at home.

Knowledge and vigilance of the disease is mainly derived from media reports as 96.5 percent of the people surveyed learned the latest situation from TV and newspapers.

About 40 percent people surveyed in the three cities have changed their routine by working at home or reducing their working hours. More than one third of them put off business trips.

The Cantonese, however, seem to be taking the SARS scare in stride as nine-tenths of the respondents said they are living a regular life.

Zheng said that life in Guangzhou has returned to normal and people rarely wear masks now.

"People in other cities tend to take it (SARS) too seriously," Zheng said.

He traveled on business to Shanghai and neighboring cities last week. In Nantong, Jiangsu Province, he was turned away by several hotels because of his Guangzhou identity card.

(eastday.com May 10, 2003)