The Department of Health also ordered the Taipei City Department of Health to take over the nerve center of the hospital and take charge of all the hospital's medical-related operations until the SARS threat subsides, DOH Deputy Director-General Lee Lung-teng (李龍騰) said.
The drastic move was taken on the heels of news that seven staff members of the hospital reportedly came down with possible SARS symptoms Tuesday, marking the first multiple appearance of possible cases since the disease first appeared in the country early last month.
The number of suspected SARS cases stemming from the hospital increased to 26 yesterday after 10 more cases were reported overnight.
Of the 26, seven are probable SARS cases, three are suspected cases, while the remaining 16 cases have yet to be determined.
The 10 newly-reported SARS cases include three doctors, one patient, four family members of the patient and two nurses.
Lee said that beginning yesterday, all inpatients already admitted to the hospital will be closely monitored by having their temperature taken and chests examined daily.
None of the hospital's inpatients will be allowed to check out. Those who checked out over the past week will receive follow-up medical checks and be ordered to stay at home for a 10-day quarantine period, Lee said.
Meanwhile, a student surnamed Lin from the Cardinal Tien Junior College of Nursing who is an intern nurse at the hospital, was transferred to the Keelung General Hospital yesterday for treatment after she was diagnosed as a probable SARS case -- one of the seven new "probable" cases that stem from the hospital.
The other six new "probables" have either been transferred to National Taiwan University Hospital or remain in Municipal Hoping Hospital under medical observation and in quarantine.
Because Lin came down with SARS symptoms, the Cardinal Tien Junior College of Nursing announced a suspension of all classes for 10 days beginning yesterday, making it the first school in the country to close down temporarily because of SARS.
Sixty to 70 people with whom Lin has had contact over the past few days have also been asked to observe a 10-day quarantine period at home.
RSS