Embassies Keep Normal Operation during SARS Outbreak in Beijing

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Embassies Keep Normal Operation during SARS Outbreak in Beijing

Most of the foreign embassies in Beijing continued normal operation despite the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic striking the Chinese capital city, envoys here said.

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Most of the foreign embassies in Beijing continued normal operation despite the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic striking the Chinese capital city, envoys here said.

Egyptian Ambassador to China Ali Houssam EL-Din EL-Hefny told Xinhua that no personnel of the embassy nor other Egyptians in the country contracted the SARS virus or were isolated due to the disease.

"The exchange activities between Egypt and China decreased to some extent due to SARS, but the embassy kept on working as normal, including the visa department," Hefny said.

Frank Neville, spokesperson for the US embassy, said there has been "no disruption" to normal operations of the embassy because of SARS and "we are fully open for business".

Counselor Akira Chiba of the Japanese embassy said no staff returned to Japan due to the disease and some personnel worked during off-duty days.

The visa business declined in some embassies and the staff or their families left Beijing in fear of the communicable killer disease.

Sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry said two consulates in Guangzhou were temporarily shut down due to the disease.

But the ministry received no notice of closing from any embassyin Beijing because of the disease so far, sources said.

Related Chinese departments, including the Foreign Ministry, made great efforts in assisting the embassies' prevention work, ministry sources said.

Those measures include providing SARS booklets, setting up hotlines and designating hospitals for foreigners in China and disinfecting public areas of the embassy district and the Diaoyutai state guest hotel, according to sources with the Foreign Ministry.

"At the suggestion of the Chinese government," Hefny said, "we disinfected the embassy regularly and keep the air fresh in the office and the staff residences."

"We even do our prayers in the embassy instead of going to the crowded mosque," Hefny said.

Press officer Alix Pinfield with the British embassy said the visa section is operating as normal and they offer free hand disinfectant gel to all visitors.

Some staff wore a mask or gloves just in case, he said, and theembassy based the anti-SARS procedures on advice from the World Health Organization and the local medical community.

Director Cai Fuchao of the publicity department of Beijing saidon May 24 that of the total eight foreign SARS patients in the city, seven had recovered and left hospital while one official of the International Labor Organization died of the disease.

Ambassador Zhanybek Karibzhanov of Kazakhstan said the anti-SARS measures adopted by the Chinese government and the Beijing municipality were "effective" and China is able to win the war against the epidemic at an early date.

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