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CNN Sunday Morning
Beijing Authorities Step Up Efforts to Combat Spread of SARS
Aired April 27, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So far, China has the most number of cases of SARS in the world. Nearly 1,000 cases in Beijing alone. That, of course, according to the WHO. City authorities have stepped up efforts to try to stem the spread of SARS.
On the phone with the latest is Beijing bureau chief Jaime Florcruz. Jaime, what's the situation?
JAIME FLORCRUZ, BEIJING CNN BUREAU CHIEF: Anderson, more draconian measures in Beijing, as the authorities ordered a temporary closure of all cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars and Internet cafes. The city government even suspended illegal process of approving marriages to discourage big wedding parties.
Catholics in Beijing were also disappointed this morning to find out that the churches are closed. The Beijing ban discourages gathering of more than 50 people. The aim of course is to avoid big crowds and to cut the chain of SARS infections.
Such draconian measures have -- may help contain SARS, but they're also prompting panic buying, and hoarding among people here, who fear that there will be a food shortage or they may be the next to be quarantined.
So a lot of anxiety here, Anderson.
COOPER: And a number of officials have already lost their positions, both in the Communist party and in local governments, isn't that correct?
FLORCRUZ: That's correct. At least two top officials, the health minister and the Beijing mayor were fired last week. And the health minister was appointed yesterday. In fact, she is a vice minister concurrently to hold that post. This is meant to give political clout to the job and also to regain some public confidence.
Beijing is hoping that her appointment would make people that they're on top of the crisis, and that they're doing their job -- Anderson.
COOPER: How widespread are these cases? I mean, it's not just in Beijing?
FLORCRUZ: No, well, there have been lower officials in some places who were recently sacked for allegedly either covering up SARS cases or just being negligent of their jobs. But the SARS epidemic is spreading across the country. I think in 23 of some 29 provinces and municipalities in China at the moment. So there is nothing too much to do at this point. Perhaps a little too late in many cases, but the optimists here are at least saying that the authorities seem to be determined to contain SARS.
Of course, it's at the expense of disruption in people's lives.
COOPER: Has the state run media broadcast this story a lot?
FLORCRUZ: Yes, since a week or so ago when Beijing authorities finally clamped down or stopped the cover-ups and warned officials against covering up the story, the local media has picked up on that. The Chinese television and newspapers are all splashed with SARS related stories, giving advice, giving hotlines that people could call, also profiling health workers who have been in the forefront of this fight.
Many of them have had to live inside the hospitals day and night for fear of contaminating their relatives, but also because they are much needed in the fight against SARS -- Anderson?
COOPER: All right, Jaime Florcruz reporting from Beijing. Thanks very much, Jaime.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
SARS>
Aired April 27, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So far, China has the most number of cases of SARS in the world. Nearly 1,000 cases in Beijing alone. That, of course, according to the WHO. City authorities have stepped up efforts to try to stem the spread of SARS.
On the phone with the latest is Beijing bureau chief Jaime Florcruz. Jaime, what's the situation?
JAIME FLORCRUZ, BEIJING CNN BUREAU CHIEF: Anderson, more draconian measures in Beijing, as the authorities ordered a temporary closure of all cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars and Internet cafes. The city government even suspended illegal process of approving marriages to discourage big wedding parties.
Catholics in Beijing were also disappointed this morning to find out that the churches are closed. The Beijing ban discourages gathering of more than 50 people. The aim of course is to avoid big crowds and to cut the chain of SARS infections.
Such draconian measures have -- may help contain SARS, but they're also prompting panic buying, and hoarding among people here, who fear that there will be a food shortage or they may be the next to be quarantined.
So a lot of anxiety here, Anderson.
COOPER: And a number of officials have already lost their positions, both in the Communist party and in local governments, isn't that correct?
FLORCRUZ: That's correct. At least two top officials, the health minister and the Beijing mayor were fired last week. And the health minister was appointed yesterday. In fact, she is a vice minister concurrently to hold that post. This is meant to give political clout to the job and also to regain some public confidence.
Beijing is hoping that her appointment would make people that they're on top of the crisis, and that they're doing their job -- Anderson.
COOPER: How widespread are these cases? I mean, it's not just in Beijing?
FLORCRUZ: No, well, there have been lower officials in some places who were recently sacked for allegedly either covering up SARS cases or just being negligent of their jobs. But the SARS epidemic is spreading across the country. I think in 23 of some 29 provinces and municipalities in China at the moment. So there is nothing too much to do at this point. Perhaps a little too late in many cases, but the optimists here are at least saying that the authorities seem to be determined to contain SARS.
Of course, it's at the expense of disruption in people's lives.
COOPER: Has the state run media broadcast this story a lot?
FLORCRUZ: Yes, since a week or so ago when Beijing authorities finally clamped down or stopped the cover-ups and warned officials against covering up the story, the local media has picked up on that. The Chinese television and newspapers are all splashed with SARS related stories, giving advice, giving hotlines that people could call, also profiling health workers who have been in the forefront of this fight.
Many of them have had to live inside the hospitals day and night for fear of contaminating their relatives, but also because they are much needed in the fight against SARS -- Anderson?
COOPER: All right, Jaime Florcruz reporting from Beijing. Thanks very much, Jaime.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
SARS>
