Two Beijing hospitals used to isolate potential victims of the recent SARS outbreak have begun returning to normal.

More than 200 medical workers, in-patients and helpers were released from isolation yesterday at Jiangong Hospital and Renmin Hospital affiliated to Peking University.

They emerged smiling and flanked by flowers after two weeks in the strict quarantine sections of the hospitals.

A further 113 people were released from isolation in eastern Anhui Province.

No new suspected or diagnosed SARS cases have been found in the past 48 hours.

Seven confirmed cases have been found in Beijing and two in Anhui since April 22.

One patient in Anhui died.

The Health Ministry said yesterday that the other confirmed patient in Anhui was in good condition, with temperature normal for 13 consecutive days.

In Beijing, one confirmed case surnamed Zhang was in critical condition because of a combination of SARS and other illness.

All the other cases were improving, doctors said.

The temperature of Mr Li, father of the first diagnosed patient in the city, has been normal for seven consecutive days, the ministry said.

Miss Li, a 20-year-old nurse, became ill on April 5 and was diagnosed as a SARS case on April 22.

She has fully recovered and was discharged on Tuesday after a month in hospital.

Jin Dapeng, head of the Beijing municipal administration for public health, said the two hospitals will soon resume normal medical services, scientific research and teaching after thorough disinfection.

In Hefei, capital of Anhui Province, sources with the provincial health administration said a combined Chinese and Western therapy has helped the SARS patient there, named Song.

Song's mother died on April 19 and was diagnosed posthumously as a confirmed SARS case.

Hundreds of people remain in quarantine, but no one with abnormal symptoms has been found outside the initial group or people who had close contact with them.