The Chinese government has strengthened prevention measures against
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), warning the disease could
make a resurgence.
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
andHenan 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
temperaturesof 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)
