To better protect the nation's healthcare personnel caring for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients, the Executive Yuan yesterday said it would insure medical staff for NT$10 million each as part of a new anti-SARS insurance policy.
"We expect the finance ministry and health department to present a more detailed plan to the premier for final approval," Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (
The meeting, presided over by Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i (
Concrete measures hammered out yesterday included encouraging the public to inform health authorities about suspected SARS cases, suspending the holding of large-scale activities, promoting the importance of personal hygiene, making public correct and timely SARS-related information and necessary warnings, establishing SARS-related information Web sites, tracking recovered SARS patients and fully implementing the 10-day domestic quarantine policy.
According to the health department, a total of 7,164 people have been put under the 10-day domestic quarantine, 2,217 of which have been removed from the list.
As of yesterday afternoon, an accumulative total of 643 cases have been reported, with eight deaths. Probable SARS cases have risen from 100 to 102. Suspected cases have increased from 97 to 102, with 45 having been discharged from hospitals and 57 still remaining in hospitals.
To fully implement the 10-day domestic quarantine program, Hsu Ying-shen (
Those reporting to local health authorities within 24 hours after receiving the quarantine notification and who do not violate any related rules will receive a NT$5,000 consolation subsidy.
The public is encouraged to take advantage of the toll free, 24-hour hot line (0800-000-085) to inform health authorities about suspected SARS cases or quarantine violators.
To help medical institutions more efficiently test the SARS virus, Twu yesterday revealed that the DOH expects to receive the test kits offered by the WHO on May 10.
Twu also called on the public to wear appropriate masks to ward off the SARS virus.
"While regular masks such as active carbon ones are sufficient for the general public, health-care personnel caring for SARS patients should wear surgical masks," Twu said.
As the Armed Forces Sungshan Hospital in Taipei City has been designated as the nation's first hospital treating only SARS patients, Twu yesterday said that the Sungchong Hospital in Taipei County will become the second one next Saturday.
Since the outbreak of SARS, the number of people visiting Hong Kong and Macau has seen a 90 percent decrease as of yesterday, according to Jeff Yang (楊家駿), director of the Mainland Affairs Council's Department of Legal Affairs.
According to the Global Insight, Taiwan's economy growth rate is estimated to see a 0.5 percent decrease from 3.8 percent to 3.3 percent if the outbreak can be brought under control before the second quarter. It will, however, plummet down to 2 percent if it drags on until the end of the year.
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