Beijing has seen a "notable downward" trend of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) cases over the last week thanks to the government's effective disease control and treatment measures, a municipal official said Saturday.
Cai Fuchao, director of the publicity department of the municipality, said at a press conference the number of SARS patients in the city dropped markedly from May 17 to May 23, with the average confirmed SARS cases decreasing to 13.2 per day.
The daily average number of health workers infected with the SARS virus dropped from 15.81 during April 21 to May 1 to 1.1 in the last week.
Of the eight foreign SARS patients in Beijing, Cai said, seven have been discharged from hospital upon recovery and one died.
The number of SARS cases were on the decrease amid increase in the number of discharged patients. Last week, Cai said, a total of 399 patients were discharged.
(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2003)
