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HK hopeful on SARS outbreak effortChina cuts holiday, sacks officials
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Hong Kong officials have expressed guarded optimism that efforts to contain the outbreak of the deadly SARS virus may be paying off after reporting the lowest daily count of new infections so far this month. There were six deaths from SARS and 22 new cases, health officials said Monday. Though the number of new cases in Hong Kong has been on the decrease in the past three days, this has been offset by a dramatic climb in the number of SARS fatalities -- 25 in total since Friday. The latest figures bring the total number of infected patients in Hong Kong to 1402 and pushes the territory's death toll to 94. The six patients who died -- aged 48 to 79 -- all had a history of chronic illness, the department of health said. Also, among the new infections reported Monday were six healthcare workers, indicating only 14 members of the public were admitted as new SARS cases. "During the past week, indeed new confirmed cases have shown a downward trend. The situation has stabilized," Hong Kong's Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan told reporters Monday. "Our estimation is that this is a result achieved through concerted efforts from all quarters." But Chan stressed that no one could afford to be complacent as SARS was a new disease and the decrease of numbers may merely be a fluctuation caused by characteristics of the illness. "We cannot afford to loosen up our efforts," she said. Hong Kong in recent weeks has upped its efforts to combat the spread of SARS. It has moved to quarantine those exposed to the virus, introduced diagnostic testing for outbound air travelers and conducted a broad public awareness and cleanliness program. Around 150 suspected SARS cases had been identified through increased measures to locate those exposed to the virus, the territory's leader, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said Monday. "The figures are stabilized," Tung told reporters, though he declined to predict when the outbreak may come under control. "I think we are making good progress," he added China raises SARS numbersAcross the border in mainland China, the situation appeared more grim. Moving to try and contain the SARS outbreak from spreading further around the country, Beijing announced Sunday it was canceling one of the country's biggest national holidays -- the week-long May 1 International Workers' Day holiday. Also, China's health minister and the mayor of Beijing were both sacked from their jobs after officials announced a dramatic increase in cases of the deadly disease in the country, state media reported. Chinese state media gave top billing to the sackings Monday, blaming the two officials for negligence in their handing of the virus outbreak and warning of the dangers of trying to cover-up the extent of the crisis. (Officials slammed) On Sunday, the health ministry in Beijing raised the number of confirmed SARS cases in the country significantly, saying there were 402 suspected infections in Beijing alone and 12 new deaths. That pushed the number of confirmed SARS cases in the Chinese capital from an official tally of 37 to 339 as of Friday, the latest date numbers for which numbers were available. The announcement came after weeks of criticism aimed at Chinese authorities, with many medical experts accusing officials of trying to cover-up the true extent of the outbreak. SARS has infected more than 3,800 people and killed at least 211 others around the globe. Of that, over 1,800 cases and 79 deaths have been reported in China. In other developments:
• Singapore has placed all 2,400 employees of a vegetable market under quarantine after three SARS cases there. A search was also underway for those who had contact with workers there or had been to the market earlier this month. One new SARS case was reported in the city-state on Sunday. There have been 14 confirmed SARS deaths and a total of 178 cases. • Canada reported its 14th death from SARS as Toronto's major Sunnybrook Hospital closed its critical care and other units after staff members began to show symptoms, the Associated press reported. Efforts in Toronto were also underway to locate passengers who traveled on the same metropolitan subway train last week as an infected person. (Passenger search) • In Hong Kong, some students are preparing for Tuesday's return to class after schools were temporarily suspended as a precaution. However about 10 schools are refusing to reopen as they believe the situation remains unsafe for students. • Meanwhile the neighboring territory of Macau reported its first suspected SARS case. A 38-year old saleswoman was in quarantine and under close observation. Despite Macau's proximity to Hong Kong, it has somehow managed to as yet avoid confirmed cases of the SARS virus.
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