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China lifts quarantine after 7 days

By Cui Xiaohuo in Beijing, Liang Qiwen in Guangzhou, Wang Hongyi in Shanghai (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-08 07:49

With letters of consolation and health certificates confirming they show no signs of flu, a total of 128 quarantined passengers were released Thursday from hotels where they had been staying for the past week.

A customs officer helps a Panama sailor put on a mask in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, on Wednesday.[China Daily]

One of them, who was quarantined in Yunnan province, showed flu-like symptoms on Wednesday, but the person tested negative for A(H1N1) flu virus and was released.

Full coverage:  A（H1N1）Influenza Outbreak Related readings: Risk of virus entering mainland grows Chinese back from Mexico, all sound Chinese calm in face of flu Hu, Obama talk on phone about flu WHO official: China doing 'quite well' in handling flu

A total of 166 passengers stayed on the mainland after an AM098 flight took them from Mexico City to Shanghai on April 30. A Mexican passenger on that flight was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu later in Hong Kong.

Among the 166 passengers, 38 Mexicans were flown back to Mexico on Monday and the remaining 128 passengers were placed in quarantine in 18 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

"The government just wants to keep everyone healthy; its primary concern is the public concern," a Mexican woman said after she was released in Shanghai. "Life in the hotel was good. The service staff prepared food and flowers for us with great care," said the woman, who had volunteered to stay in Shanghai for the quarantine.

"I love Shanghai. I've worked and lived here for four years, and I will continue to stay here," said the woman, without giving her name.

In Shanghai, 32 quarantined passengers from the flight left their hotel Thursday morning.

"The hotel staff did their best for us, though it was a little bit boring for us to live in the house," said a man surnamed Gao from Shanghai. His wife and son were also under quarantine for the week.

"It felt so good to get out of the house and take off the mask," said Gao's young son. The family of three will soon return home.

In Guangdong province, 22 passengers who took the flight also left their hotel quarantine yesterday.

One of them was a 25-year-old man surnamed Su, who worked in Mexico temporarily.

He said he returned to his hometown Taishan to see his family and girlfriend and would stay about a month.

"Watching TV, reading books and talking to family on the phone were all we could do in the past a week," Su said. "My girlfriend came to see me every day."

But they could only see each other from far away, as she had to stand in the downstairs of the building where Su was quarantined.

"I fully understand the quarantine," he said. "It shows our government is responsible."

He was very happy to be free from the quarantine yesterday, because he has been waiting a long time to see his girlfriend. The quarantine has brought their two hearts closer as Su said he missed her more than ever in the past week and he would probably propose to her soon.

Carrillo Morales is one of two Mexicans who volunteered to stay quarantined in Beijing. He said: "I want to be with my family in Beijing. We've been here for two years."

He said hotel staff asked him what his favorite food was.

"I told them I like roast Peking duck. I didn't expect they would send people to buy me one from Beijing's famous Quanjude Restaurant. I think they did their best to make us comfortable," he said.