Sars toll escalates in China

2003-04-27 16:18

Hong Kong - Another 24 people died from SARS in Asia on Sunday, as countries have stepped up their defences against the virus, with China shutting down entertainment venues in its capital and Taiwan banning visitors from affected countries.

Hong Kong reported 12 more deaths from severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) on Sunday, taking the total death toll to 133. It was the second time this month that a record dozen fatalities were reported in a single day.

China reported nine more fatalities, eight of them in the capital, as Taiwan reported its first Sars death and Singapore's death toll climbed by two to 21.

With China's national death toll standing at 131, fear of the disease deepened in the capital, which has been worst affected, and the city's government ordered all cinemas, theatres, karaoke bars and Internet cafes to close.

Beijing also stopped marriage registrations in a bid to curb large-scale weddings to boost its defences against Sars, state media reported.

The moves were the latest drastic measures taken by the city government to contain Sars. Schools and universities have already been closed, two hospitals have been isolated, 4 000 people have been quarantined at home and road blocks have been set up to prevent sick people leaving the city.

Deserted streets and empty plazas reflected the awful fact that of all the people who are reported to have succumbed to Sars worldwide, one in six have died in Beijing.

- AFX