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Journalism of Courage
China reported a sharply lower number of new SARS cases on Monday as Hong Kong planned an all-out campaign against spitting and litter bugs to clean up the city’s image.
Hong Kong reported a single new case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and one more death — figures that reinforce signs that health officials have brought the flu-like virus under control in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.
But elsewhere, Canada reported a climbing death toll in their fight against SARS and its resurgence in Toronto sent more than 800 people into quarantine. Health officials warned of additional deaths as the World Health Organization put Toronto back on its list of sars-infected areas, just 12 days after it was taken off. The who’s decision is a fresh blow to the city, scrambling to restore its economy and image.
Taiwan said on Monday it had 15 probable cases, leading officials to cautiously suggest the virus was being brought under control there after spreading rapidly through the island’s health system. But the growing number of suspect cases remained a worry.
China’s eight new cases on Monday mark the first single-digit daily increase in infections since the outbreak in mid-April. China, which has the bulk of the world’s more than 8,000 SARS cases, said two more people had died.
In Hong Kong, a government source said a crackdown on spitting and littering was about to be launched as part of a campaign aiming to prevent more SARS outbreaks. Those caught spitting or littering would be fined HK$1,200 (US$154). Landlords, often notorious for being reluctant to pay for maintenance, and restaurateurs would be asked to renovate their premises to comply with stricter hygiene and safety standards.
Meanwhile, many in Hong Kong put aside their surgical masks on Monday, a show of confidence after the WHO last week rescinded its advisory against travel to the city. In subways and shopping malls, people wearing protective masks made up the minority for the first time in months.
China has now had 317 deaths from SARS and 5,316 cases. In Taiwan, the Cabinet’s SARS committee said it would announce a plan this week to require every resident to take their temperatures twice a day for 10 days. (Reuters)
