(scmp.com) Officials may relax quarantine rules in Shanghai BILL SAVADOVE in Shanghai Shanghai is considering relaxing strict quarantine rules as the city's Sars situation is improving, officials said yesterday. City authorities now require residents returning from affected areas to stay in quarantine for two weeks, regardless of whether or not they show symptoms. Visitors to the city coming from affected areas must undergo health checks every day for two weeks, although they are free to move around. "We are now considering adjusting the relatively strict policy measures in the two directives [on quarantines]," said Jiao Yang, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Information Office. She said the local government was considering whether it was necessary to put people in quarantine for two weeks when the situation in the city was "stable". The Mayor of Shanghai, Han Zheng, told diplomats on Tuesday that he was considering applying the rules for visitors, who are not subject to isolation, to residents returning to Shanghai. As of yesterday, Shanghai had seven confirmed cases of Sars, including two deaths and two patients who had recovered and been released from hospital, the local health bureau said. The three still in hospital are in serious condition and on respirators. There are three suspected cases. |
SARS Almost Goes to an End