No medical workers in Beijing's designated SARS treatment hospitals
have contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) since May
7, said Zhang Mao, vice-mayor of Beijing on Friday.
While reporting to the fourth meeting of the standing committee of
the 12th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Zhang said reducing
the SARS infection rate among medical workers was an important
issue which had attracted great attention from all circles of
society.
The Beijing municipal government has increased training of medical
workers in designated SARS hospitals in an attempt to improve their
safety.
The Ministry of Health has listed infection rates of medical
workers as an important criterion when assessing the performance of
its hospitals and standardized detailed procedures for the
sterilization, quarantine and virus prevention work of medical
workers.
Zhang said the Beijing municipal government had taken over a number
of hotels for medical workers to have rests from the frontline.
To
date, a total of seven batches of 4,000 medical staff have enjoyed
the special treatment.
(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2003)