April 23, 2003

BEIJING (AP) -- Beijing authorities announced Wednesday that they plan to invoke emergency measures to quarantine people exposed to the SARS virus and restrict access to buildings where there are infections.

The statement by the Beijing city government said that people who are suspected of having severe acute respiratory syndrome or have come in contact with SARS patients will be isolated.

Additionally, buildings that have had cases of infections will also become restricted areas. This includes hospitals, factories, schools, hotels, residential buildings and construction sites.

The statement, released by the local television station, said the new measures were effective Wednesday, but did not provide details on how they will be enforced. It did not say where the people will be quarantined or which buildings have been identified as restricted areas so far.

The measures are based on China's infectious disease prevention laws, the statement said. Anyone who violates the regulations will be punished according to the law, the statement said.

Mayor Meng Xuenong was replaced this week after being accused of mishandling the SARS outbreak. His firing came after the Health Ministry on Sunday disclosed that the number of cases in Beijing had jumped nearly tenfold from 37 to 339.

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry said Beijing had a total of 693 cases of SARS and 35 deaths.

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.