Quarantine in Singapore orders set to be lifted at midnigh
( 2003-12-19 17:19) (Agencies)
Singapore has reported no new Sars cases and will likely lift home quarantine
orders on Friday on 75 people who had contact with an infected Taiwanese
researcher, officials said.
Five others, who are sick after having contact with the 44-year-old
scientist, could remain isolated and under observation in a hospital despite
testing negative for the flu-like virus, the Health Ministry said. It was not
immediately clear how long they will be hospitalised.
None of those placed under home quarantine had fallen ill, and their
confinement orders would expire at 11.59pm on Friday (1559 GMT), said Health
Ministry spokesman Esther Wong.
She said passengers who were on the Singapore-Taiwan flight with the Sars
patient have all been notified, with the last one tracked down in Shanghai and
reported to be well. Chinese authorities have been alerted, she added.
The Taiwanese scientist -- identified only as Lieutenant-Colonel Chan --
tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome shortly after visiting
Singapore on Dec 7-10 for a meeting. Officials said he was probably not
contagious while travelling, because he had no symptoms at the time.
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