Vice-premier Wu Yi has called for substantial measures to prevent, treat and control SARS in the national capital in a bid to ensure people's health and safety.
Wu made the call during a meeting with local officials to hear reports on the city's battle against the disease on Tuesday.
The vice-premier praised the city government for the measurers it has adopted to fight SARS since a coalition working group on the prevention and control of the disease was established. It has laid down a good foundation for the city to beat the SARS epidemic, she said.
She warned, however, that the situation in the capital was still serious, noting that it was imperative to cut off sources of the epidemic and form an anti-SARS network throughout the city.
Wu called for efforts to ensure the supply of medical goods for fighting SARS and a crackdown on those involved in making and selling fake medicines, and hoarding and speculation activities.
Efforts should also be made to control the movements of students and rural laborers working in Beijing, she said.
Liu Qi, secretary of the city committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), presided over the meeting, and Acting Mayor Wang Qishang made a report on the fight against SARS in the city.
(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2003)