The increase in the number of suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases yesterday triggered panic and confusion in residential areas near two new special SARS treatment centers in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
The Taipei City Government decided yesterday to relocate 18 people, suspected of having SARS, who have been isolated at the Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital.
PHOTO: AFP
The Department of Health and the Armed Forces Sung Shan Hospital coordinated the transfer yesterday morning of some of the hospital's patients to other facilities in order to empty 109 beds in an isolated four-floor building to accommodate the suspected-SARS patients from Hoping.
Health officials said eventually about 40 patients will be hospitalized in the building, which is about 100m from any other buildings. Isolated air-conditioners have been installed in the rooms that will be used for SARS cases.
The military hospital was chosen to treat suspected SARS cases due to its experience in dealing with major casualties from the 921 earthquake and the flooding caused by Typhoon Nari in 2001.
Officials of the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday that there would be at most about 300 beds at the hospital.
They said the hospital was not the only military hospital that would be turned into a special SARS clinic if needed. Others in the center, south and east of the country will be available.
Residents living near the Sung Shan Hospital, however, are worried by the relocation project.
"No one dares to eat inside because of the relocation," said an owner of a small restaurant near the hospital.
Since the Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital was put into isolation on Thursday, nearby restaurants and shops have reported a loss of customers.
News that a special SARS clinic will be set up in warehouse next to Kaohsiung's Health department building starting today angered nearby residents yesterday.
As technicians worked on converting the building, some protesting residents quarreled with the city's health officials.
"The special SARS center should have been established at a remote area, such as Chichin District," one resident said.
City health officials argued that setting up the special clinic would prevent what happened at Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital from occurring in Kaohsiung.
Officials said that the establishment of the special center would lower the possibility to spread the disease inadvertently in other hospitals.
"By doing this, the city's SARS-prevention network could be established soundly," said Han Ming-jung (
Health officials stressed that the distance to the nearest residential area, which exceeds 500 meters, remain safe to residents because the spread of SARS could be attributed to close contact with patients and their excretions.
Meanwhile, officials said the city's branch of the Bureau of National Health Insurance, where a medical technician was diagnosed as a suspected SARS case last week, will remain closed today.
Joe Lin (
Health officials are trying to trace 115 people who visited the bureau's office last week to see if any have developed symptoms of SARS.
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