Beijing exodus begins, schools closed

Large numbers of people are flocking to railway stations in Beijing in an attempt to leave the city as the SARS outbreak intensifies….

Large numbers of people are flocking to railway stations in Beijing in an attempt to leave the city as the SARS outbreak intensifies….ChinaDisinfection squads have spread across the country as the Government steps up the war against the disease.The World Health Organisation has warned that SARS, already present in 19 cities, provinces and regions, could explode across the country.Meanwhile the authorities have announced the closure of all primary and high schools in Beijing.Around 1.7 million primary and high school children will not be going to school in the capital Beijing.Every newspaper in the city is today reporting that classes have been suspended to protect their health and lives as SARS spreads through China. Schools holidays were scheduled in May for two weeks, but authorities have decided to extend the suspension of classes for an extra two weeks at least. Mid-term exams have been cancelled and pupils have been requested not to go to public places.AustraliaThere are now four people in Australian hospitals under investigation for SARS. Four other potential cases reported to the WHO have now been cleared. Australian health authorities says they have contacted the WHO again today to report a fourth probable case of SARS, a 45-year-old woman from Queensland who has been under medical supervision since returning to Australia from southern China almost two weeks ago.She has now recovered from the illness.Three other children visiting Victoria from Canada have also been reported to the WHO as probable SARS cases, but those children have also recovered.Four other people remain under investigation including a 57-year-old woman in Western Australia, a nine-year-old boy in New South Wales and two adult men in Adelaide who remain in isolation in hospital.(Source: Reuters; cited on ABC Online; Last Update: Wednesday, April 23, 2003. 4:33pm (AEST))