President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said he plans to meet with legislative caucus and political party leaders to discuss prevention measures of severe acute respiratory disease (SARS) after the National Security Council meeting.
The security council meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, is likely to be pushed forward.
Chen yesterday also called on the nation to stay calm in the face of the outbreak and work jointly with the government to resolve the crisis created by the global pandemic.
"SARS is not a formidable disease if we have proper knowledge of preventative measures and follow the advice of medical experts," Chen said.
As the nation has overcome various challenges over the years, Chen said that he was confident it could prevail again.
Chen made the remarks during a 15-minute pre-recorded television program broadcast on the nation's three terrestrial TV stations as well as cable TV news shows last night.
Following Chen's speech were prevention tips offered by two medical experts, Chang Shan-chwen (張上淳), director of the Infectious Disease Department of National Taiwan University Hospital and Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), chairman of the government's SARS Advisory Committee and professor of epidemiology at National Taiwan University.
Chen accentuated his assertion that everyone can play an important part in the SARS prevention campaign and only through the cooperation of central and local governments and the public can the nation turn the tide in the battle against SARS.
Chen revealed that he decided to address the nation last night because there was a consensus of the need for such a move at a meeting on Saturday night. At the meeting, Chen met with local infectious disease experts and government officials to learn of the latest developments.
"Although our medical capabilities are top notch, the public, and some healthcare personnel, don't have sufficient or correct knowledge of the disease," Chen said.
Chen also disclosed that another consensus reached during Saturday's meeting was that the SARS patients at the Hoping Hospital must be relocated to other hospitals with better facilities.
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