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)