SINGAPORE: SINGAPORE SHUTS ALL ITS SCHOOLS TO CONTAIN MYSTERY PNEUMOINIA VIRUS THAT HAS KILLED AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE

Record ID: 645877

  • Title: SINGAPORE: SINGAPORE SHUTS ALL ITS SCHOOLS TO CONTAIN MYSTERY PNEUMOINIA VIRUS THAT HAS KILLED AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE
  • Date: 24th March 2003
  • Summary: (W4) SINGAPORE (MARCH 26, 2003) (REUTERS) WS: PRESS BRIEFING HELD BY SINGAPORE'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEO CHEE HEAN, SINGAPORE'S MINISTER OF EDUCATION, SAYING: "As an additional precautionary measure in response to concerns expressed by parents on the recent SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) cases, the Ministry of Education and the ministry of Health have decided to close all primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and centralised institutes from Thursday, which is tomorrow, to the 6th of April which is next Sunday." SV: JOURNALISTS LISTENING SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIM HNG KIANG, SINGAPORE'S HEALTH MINISTER, SAYING: "In the hospitals no more healthcare workers have been infected with SARS by known or suspected cases, since the implementation of the enhanced infection control precautions" WIDE OF PRESSER
  • Embargoed: 8th April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SINGAPORE
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: Education,General,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACIZ0TML4JANQPDY41S96T16B9
  • Story Text: Singapore is shutting all its schools to contain a
    mystery pneumonia that has killed at least 50 people
    worldwide.


    Wednesday's (March 26) move by Singapore comes amid
    increasing concern about the mysterious spread of the disease
    - which is believed to have started in southern China before
    spreading around the world.

    "As an additional precautionary measure in response to
    concerns expressed by parents on the recent SARS (Severe Acute
    Respiratory Syndrome) cases, the Ministry of Education and the
    Ministry of Health have decided to close all primary schools,
    secondary schools, junior colleges and centralised institutes
    from Thursday, which is tomorrow, to the 6th of April which is
    next Sunday," Education Minister Teo Chee Hean (Pron: Tee-o
    Chee Hee-en) told a press conference.

    Singapore earlier reported its first death from severe
    acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Nearly 70 people in the
    city
    state have been infected and the government this week ordered
    750 citizens to remain quarantined at home. The city state's
    Ministry of Health says the measures to control the spread of
    the disease seem to be working.

    "In the hospitals no more healthcare workers have been
    infected with SARS by known or suspected cases, since the
    implementation of the enhanced infection control precautions,"
    said Health Minister Lim Hng Kiang (Pron: lim hung key-ang)
    World Health Organisation officials believe SARS is linked
    to an outbreak in Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong, which began
    in November, but they have yet to prove it scientifically.
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