Days after China conceded it bungled the handling of the SARS outbreak, public anger over the foul-ups and perceived lies is spreading like a virus.
"They've made a complete mess of this," said one office worker, while waiting to order a chicken sandwich at a nearly deserted McDonald's restaurant in central Beijing.
"The leaders messed up and people have died, so how can they not step down to take responsibility?" said the man, who only gave his surname, Zhong.
Nervous Beijingers have donned virus-filtering masks and emptied shelves of rice and disinfectant amid rumors that Beijing would be sealed off. Thousands of students, temporary workers and expatriates have fled, while others debate nightly whether to go or stay.
Chinese officials claimed for weeks that they had a handle on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and ignored claims by doctors and other health experts that the epidemic was growing. SARS was "under effective control," Health Minister Zhang Wenkang said on April 3, just as reports of scores of cases in Beijing were coming in.
Attitudes changed drastically and abruptly last Sunday, when officials conceded that Beijing had nearly 350 SARS cases -- nearly 10 times more than previously announced. By Friday, the number of infections in Beijing had climbed to more than 870, with 42 deaths.
State media have ramped up information on the disease and thousands of residents are being quarantined in homes and hospitals as the city promises tough measures.
Still, many Chinese say the sluggish start and the state media's initial silence about the outbreak has left them feeling unprepared -- and angry.
"One week ago, the government hardly told us anything about SARS," said a Beijing hotel waitress, who only gave her surname, Chen.
"Now we're having a big campaign, but I still have suspicions that we're not getting all the information. They're still covering things up," said the woman, who was also upset because the hotel's dining room staff weren't allowed to wear face masks.
Many restaurant and hotel managers, already hit by declining business due to SARS concerns, have forbidden staff from wearing masks for fear of scaring off what customers are left. Government officials worried about setting off a panic have also gone conspicuously mask-free in public appearances.
The Communist Party forbids criticism that might threaten its power and most Chinese know where the limits are. Though quick to vent in private conversations or messages posted on the Internet, Beijing residents aren't marching in the street or spraying anti-government graffiti on buildings.
Yet the degree of outrage has already compelled a government health official to issue a rare apology for the slow release of information about the disease. Beijing's mayor has also been sacked and the health minister has been stripped of his party posts.
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