Saga of Hoping hospital detainees mellows

After days of turmoil at the quarantined Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital, the situation began to get back to normal yesterday, with more and more encouragement and resources pouring into the hospital, although businesses in the immediate vicinity continue to suffer from a dearth of traffic.

Some detainees inside the hospital hung signs from windows again yesterday, but in contrast to the panicky phrases of previous days, there were more comforting missives.

"Thank you for your concerns. We are fine. We love Hoping," read one sign.

The messages went both ways as supporters dangled a sign facing hospital windows that read: "Kudos to those on the SARS front."

Taipei City Bureau of Health Director Chiou Shu-ti (邱淑媞) announced that early-morning deliveries of medical supplies and other resources began yesterday.

"I find it peculiar that some people inside are still complaining that they are not getting the things that they need. We will look into this," Chiou said.

"In the meantime, it is important that the staff inside the hospital work together, so the operation can run smoothly and we can ensure everyone gets what they need," she said.

A volunteer from the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Ho Jui-chen (何瑞珍), said that, for the most part, people who have received counseling from the group have kept their wits about themselves. Tzu Chi is also counseling family members of the detainees at a makeshift booth in front of the hospital.

"People have mostly inquired after the well-being of their families inside and asked Tzu Chi to find out whether family members needed anything in particular," Ho said.

However, it wasn't all about decreasing tensions yesterday.

Three labor groups, the Coordination Action of Labor Legislation (CALL), Taiwan Association For Victims of Occupations Injuries and Taiwan International Workers' Association (TIWA), staged a small demonstration in support for the quarantined medical staff and two foreign laborers in the hospital.

The groups said one Filipino and one Indonesian care workers are confined in the hospital together with their employers.

CALL and TIWA issued a joint statement saying that the medical staff inside should be given better working environment and have a right to protection from possible infections. The TIWA also urged the two foreign laborers to contact the association, so that it could offer them help.

A fire engine was posted at the hospital all day long, apparently as precaution against suicide attempts. Sunday afternoon, a man sat at the 8th-floor window of B Building, making hysterical gestures indicating that he was prepared to jump at any moment.

He was pulled back into the hospital by other people.

Shops around the hospital -- whose main customers were the families of the patients -- have been suffering a loss of customers since the quarantine started last Thursday.

Some shopowners have decided to take a mini vacation, shutting down completely along with the hospital.

However, some shop owners and area residents have decided to ride out the business slump.

A female cashier at a 7-Eleven located next to the hospital said only reporters come in these days and business is not good.

"If you are destined to die, you will die anywhere. SARS doesn't make a difference. I am not afraid," she said.