A number of government ministries involved in health, railways, transportation, and civil aviation issued a joint circular Monday, urging departments concerned to take stringent measures to prevent the SARS virus from spreading via transportation vehicles.
As the State Council has decided to list SARS as a major contagious disease, the circular requires an establishment of special facilities on major railways and highways, and at water and air ports at prefectural level and above to isolate, examine and treat SARS patients and suspected patients or carriers of the SARS virus.
The circular also stipulates that these services will not be allowed to refuse patients treatment, once they are found on transportation vehicles. The circular also stipulates that public transportation services must frequently sterilize public transportation vehicles and service stations and advise the SARS patients and suspected patients or carriers of the SARS virus not to take public transportation vehicles.
The circular requires government departments involved in administering these transportation services to work out emergency treatment measures to treat SARS patients. Medical checkups should be conducted on passengers who have close contact with SARS patients.
The circular also calls on local governments at various levels to publicize contact information about those special facilities for isolation, examination and treatment of SARS patients. The general public is also called on to monitor their operations.
Measures to prevent SARS from spreading via transport vehicles:
1. Special facilities should be established on major railways and highways, at ports and airports to isolate, examine and treat SARS patients and suspected patients or carriers of the SARS virus.
2. SARS patients should be treated at these facilities if any and no refusals are allowed.
3. Passengers who have close contact with SARS patients should have medical check-ups and be registered.
4. Public transportation vehicles and service stations should be frequently sterilized.
5. SARS patients and suspected patients or carriers of SARS virus should be advised not to board on public transportation vehicles.
6. Local governments at various levels should publicize contact information about those special facilities for isolation, examination and treatment of SARS patients.
(CCTV News April 14, 2003)
