Figures from the Ministry of Health (MOH) show the Chinese mainland reported 26 new SARS cases and four new deaths from the disease between 10:00 a.m. May 21 and 10:00 a.m. May 22.

Chinese experts have discovered five traits of the spread of SARS. For example, senior citizens with chronic diseases tend to infect others more easily.

To prevent SARS spreading in rural areas, the MOH regulates that marriage and funeral ceremonies held in SARS infected areas should avoid large-scale gatherings and meals.

Rural doctors and family planning officials are required to go door-to-door everyday to inspect local prevention measures.

At the same time judicial departments are cracking down on SARS-related crimes.

Zhang Yuexin, a Beijing citizen who extorted cooked food without payment while pretending to have SARS in late April was sentenced to two years in prison Wednesday.

Liu Baocheng, a farmer from Henan Province, was arrested immediately after he was discharged from hospital on May 17. Having been confirmed as a SARS patient in mid-April, Liu refused treatment and escaped twice, infecting many people maliciously.

Some fifty officials and Communist Party members in Sichuan and Henan provinces have been punished for neglecting their duties in preventing SARS.

To prevent the disease spreading in school yards, the Beijing Education Commission has ordered schools to check the temperatures of students every day, improve accommodation standards and lengthen break times. Students are required to eat their meals individually and parents are banned from visiting schools.

On Thursday, 80,000 senior high school students in Beijing returned to school in the run-up to their college entrance examinations.

Beijing has also taken preventative measures, such as disinfecting classrooms and making students wear masks to ensure the college entrance exams go ahead as scheduled.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2003)