Shut down during the SARS outbreak, China's national library reopened yesterday with its books newly sterilized, windows open for ventilation and hundreds of readers queuing up to get in.
At least 400 people were standing in a drizzle before the six-story National Library of China in Beijing's northwest opened its doors at 9 am and 1,800 visited during the first hour, said Bai Xuehua, a library spokesman. He said 10,000 people were expected before day's end.
"It was surprising how many people came," he said, given that "it was raining."
"There are many restrictions in place but everyone is being patient," he added.
Readers were checked for fevers before entering and were encouraged to wear masks while inside. The library is regularly disinfecting public areas and using special lights to sterilize its 20 million books.
The reopening is another sign that the city -- the worst hit by severe acute respiratory syndrome in the world -- is slowly recovering after the outbreak of the flu-like disease in April shut down many businesses in the capital.
The library closed on April 24 amid anti-SARS measures that also shut down Beijing's schools, cinemas, gymnasiums and other public facilities.
Beijing accounts for 183 of the Chinese mainland's 339 reported deaths from SARS. Daily reports of deaths and new cases have fallen into the single digits in recent weeks.
It reported no new cases yesterday, marking two successive days of no new confirmed or suspected SARS cases.
Also yesterday, the World Health Organization said Dr David Heymann, the UN agency's communicable diseases chief, will visit Beijing this week to meet Health Ministry officials.
The WHO last week declared the SARS epidemic "over its peak" around the globe, including in China. But the UN health agency said the world must remain vigilant.
Cinemas in Beijing will reopen today with fever checks for customers and reduced numbers of tickets sold in order to avoid crowding. Discos, gyms and karaoke parlors are still closed.
Meanwhile, newly enrolled overseas students and teachers will have to buy medical insurance with SARS cover, beginning September.
According to a notice released by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, overseas students, including those from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and newly employed teachers, were asked to buy insurance with a total sum of no less than 400,000 yuan (US$48,000). They can buy the insurance either overseas or on the Chinese mainland, said the commission.
(Eastday.com June 10, 2003)
