The World Health
Organization has decided to remove Beijing from its list of SARS-infected
areas and lift its travel advisory against the city, a WHO official announced
in Beijing Tuesday.
The decision took effect immediately, Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director
for the Western Pacific, said at a press conference jointly held by WHO
and China's Ministry of Health.
Beijing had recorded 2,521 cumulative cases of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) and 191 deaths by Monday, and reported no new SARS cases
for consecutive 13 days.
Chinese Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang told the press that life in
China has returned to normal and it is now safe to travel to any place
in the country.
WHO’s decision to lift the travel advisory on Beijing and remove
Beijing off its list of locally transmitting area of SARS marks the thorough
lifting of travel advisory to any province or municipality on the Chinese
mainland, Gao said.
He stressed that the WHO decision indicates that China's efforts in fighting
SARS have achieved a significant victory, and the victory has not come
easy.
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