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Beijing, 17.06.2003 - SARS Update n° 11 Dear compatriots, Since several days no new SARS cases are reported in China. In fact the last registered case outside Beijing was from the province Hebei on 29th May 2003. Beijing reported its last suspected case on 14th June and its last probable case on 11th June 2003. Consequently the World Health Organisation (WHO) changed the travel recommendation on 13th June 2003 and removed Tianjin, the provinces Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi from its Travel recommendation list, a decision that has been extended to Taiwan on June 17th. For the time being only Beijing is remaining on the list. Concerning the list of areas with recent local transmission of the World Health Organisation (WHO) the following provinces and city have been removed: Guangdong, Heibei, Hubei, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Tianjin. Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Toronto remain listed as affected areas with recent local transmission. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed from the list all regions in China except Beijing and Hong Kong, the internal precautionary measures some provinces and local authorities introduced remain implemented. The Embassy therefore recommends that if you intend to travel in China you should check with the local authorities if any special regulations are still in force. Even though the development of the disease is very encouraging the Embassy advises you to maintain the preventive measures, in particular regarding sanitation. Faithfully yours, The Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing Beijing, 04.06.2003 - SARS Update n° 10 Dear Compatriots, The Swiss Embassy is pleased to note that the figures on SARS have considerably improved in the last days, to a point where there are now only a few new cases officially reported daily. Despite some uncertainties it cannot be disputed that a satisfactory trend is developing. The Embassy certainly hopes that this trend proves to be lasting and that the epidemic will be ultimately eradicated, thanks to the fruitful efforts of the Chinese government and to its good co-operation with the international institutions, in particular with the World Health Organisation. Nevertheless, as stated by the Chinese Authorities and the WHO, the disease is still far from being actually eradicated. So, it is of utmost importance that the preventive measures, in particular regarding sanitation, are maintained, and that caution still prevails. As a consequence of the positive developments of the situation, Hong Kong and the province of Guangdong have been deleted from the negative SARS Travel recommendation list of the World Health Organisation. Both areas remain nevertheless on the list of affected areas. As far as Beijing, Tianjin, the provinces Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi are concerned , they remain so far on the negative travel recommendation list of the WHO. Please look at the updated SARS travel recommendation summary from the WHO as well as the last reported figures for Beijing and the rest of China (pdf, 1 p., 50 kb). Faithfully Yours, The Swiss Embassy, Beijing Beijing, 12.05.2003 - SARS Update n° 9 Dear compatriots, Travel advice from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (SFOPH) The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health adjusted the travel advice on 8th May 2003 in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) dated 8th May 2003: It is recommended, as a measure of precaution, to consider postponing all but essential travel to the following regions:
Travel in China The Embassy
would like to remind you (refer as well to the update no 8,
30.04.2003) that various precautionary measures to prevent the
spread of SARS have been or will be implemented by provincial
and municipal authorities all over China to stop the arrival
of persons from an area affected from the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS). Miscellaneous On 9th May 2003 Ulaanbataar/Mongolia has been removed from the list of areas with recent local transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The Embassy is following the development of the situation very closely and any important information will be forwarded to the Swiss community by e-mail. Please consult regularly the websites mentioned on the last updates. The following additional links may be of interest to you:
Sinoptic (the different mails sent by the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing and of the Consulate General of Switzerland in Shanghai are accessible online): www.sinoptic.ch/sante/ Faithfully yours, Embassy of Switzerland Beijing, 30.04.2003 - SARS Update n° 8 Dear compatriots, The Embassy of Switzerland learnt from different sources that various precautionary measures have been or will be implemented by municipalities all over China to stop the arrival of persons arriving from an area affected from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The Embassy therefore advises you to be aware of the fact that if you wish to travel in China that you risk to have to go through coercive measures like a quarantine of two weeks. The German Embassy has issued a press release concerning this measure introduced by several municipalities: www.deutschebotschaft-china.org On the following website of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipality of Beijing you can find a list of the SARS-cases in Beijing listed by districts and information on the measures introduced:
Please note that the Embassy is closed from 1st - 5th May 2003. In case of a real emergency you can dial the following emergency phone number: 1390 133 1023. The Embassy is following the development of the situation very closely as well over the holidays and any important information will be forwarded to the Swiss community by e-mail. Embassy of Switzerland Beijing, 27.04.2003 - SARS Update n° 7 +
Business contingency planning Dear compatriots, Travel advice The Embassy informed on 24th April 2003 about the decision of the Federal Office of Public Health, based on the travel advice of the World Health Organisation, to consider postponing all but essential travel to Beijing, the provinces Guangdong and Shanxi, Hong Kong and Toronto (Canada). Because of the development of the decease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom (SARS) preventive measure have been introduced in Beijing, such as putting some zone or buildings under quarantine and it is very likely that other measure will be implemented. No advice for evacuation Neither the World Health Organisation nor the Federal Office of Public Health advises the evacuation of the foreigners in Beijing respectively of the Swiss nationals. It is everybody's own decision on the basis of the professional and personal situation and if necessary after having consulted the family doctor. Leaving Beijing is at your own risk. Everybody has to organise the departure himself. Neither the Embassy nor the Federal administration can cover the costs for your return journey. Departure On 24th April the Embassy informed already, that the Chinese Foreign Ministry declared in writing that the municipality of Beijing introduced quarantine measures but that: "foreign nationals can leave on their own after they are cleared of being infected by virtue of medical observation". No medical evacuation possible There is a possibility that members of the Swiss community or employees of the Swiss Embassy will contract SARS. The Federal Office of Public Health informed the Embassy that repatriation to Switzerland is not possible as the risk that the disease could spread is too high. Airlines and the Swiss Air Rescue (REGA) cannot transport any patients who contracted SARS. Miscellaneous The office in Beijing of the World Health Organisation is giving the following reasons concerning the issued travel advice: the disease is spreading uncontrolled, new cases are registered and it is not certain that the situation will be under control soon. The World Health Organisation is assuming that several provinces are affected by this disease but is not in a position to evaluate the development except for Beijing and Guangdong. Experts of the World Health Organisation are at the moment assessing the situation in Shanghai. The Embassy is following the development of the situation very closely and any important information will be forwarded to the Swiss community by e-mail. Please consult regularly the websites mentioned on the last update. The Embassy wishes you courage to overcome this special situation. Embassy of Switzerland Beijing, 24.04.2003 - SARS Update n° 6 Dear compatriots, The Embassy of Switzerland would like to inform you, that the travel advice from the Federal Office of Public Health dated 2nd April 2003, based on recommendations of the World Health Organisation, has been changed with immediate effect: Persons planning to travel to Beijing, the provinces Guangdong and Shanxi, Hong Kong and Toronto (Canada) are advised to consider postponing all but essential travel. This travel advises will be reassessed in three-week times. Please click here for the official list of the World Health Organisation with confirmed SARS-cases listed by provinces (23.04.2003). Information
concerning preventive measures to be taken can be found on the
website of the Federal Office of Public Health and the World
Health Organisation mentioned below. The Embassy contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the question of quarantine measures to be introduced in Beijing. We were informed, that certain areas in Beijing would be put under quarantine. In addition the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Embassy as follows: foreign nationals can leave on their own after they are cleared of being infected by virtue of medical observation. If you consider to leave China temporarily please inform the Swiss Embassy, Beat Schmid, tel.: 010 6532 2736, ext. 201, e-mail: vertretung@bei.rep.admin.ch. If you have any questions concerning visa formalities for your non-Swiss family members please contact directly Mr. Läderach, tel.: 010 6532 2736, ext. 108. The following measures have been introduced by the municipality of Beijing for the foreigners:
Beijing United Family Hospital informs that patients whose symptoms are highly suspect of or are confirmed SARS will be transferred exclusively to the Beijing Union Medical College Hospital (PUMC). Beijing United Family Hospital will cooperate with the faculty at PUMC in setting the patients' treatment plan and follow the patients throughout the course of their illness and hospital stay. The Consular service of the Swiss representations in China and Hongkong will operate as usual. The Embassy is following the development of the situation very closely and any important information will be forwarded to the Swiss community immediately by e-mail. The Embassy advises you to consult the following websites on regular basis: Swiss Federal
Office of Public Health: www.bag.admin.ch If you know of any Swiss citizens who did not receive this e-mail please forward this circular to them and inform the Swiss Embassy about their e-mail address. This will allow the Embassy to reach the Swiss community effectively. Thank you. Embassy of Switzerland Beijing, 11.04.2003 - SARS Update n° 5 Dear compatriots, The Embassy of Switzerland would like to inform you, that the travel advice from the Federal Office of Public Health dated 2nd April 2003, based on recommendations of the World Health Organisation, is still valid: it is recommended that persons travelling to Hongkong and the province of Guangdong are advised to postpone non-essential travel. The Municipality of Beijing declared on 10th April 2003 that the population in China is being kept informed about the SARS and that special measures have been introduced for the information of the foreigners. The municipality of Beijing has introduced the following preventive measures:
The following measures have been introduced for the foreigners:
Beijing United Family Hospital informs that patients whose symptoms are highly suspect of or are confirmed SARS will be transferred exclusively to the Beijing Union Medical College Hospital (PUMC). Beijing United Family Hospital will cooperate with the faculty at PUMC in setting the patients' treatment plan and follow the patients throughout the course of their illness and hospital stay. The Consular service of the Swiss representations in China and Hongkong will operate as usual. Information
concerning preventive measures to be taken can be found on the
website of the Federal Office of Public Health and the World
Health Organisation mentioned below. The Embassy is following the development of the situation very closely and any important information will be forwarded to the Swiss community immediately by e-mail. The Embassy advises you to consult the following websites on regular basis: Swiss Federal
Office of Public Health: www.bag.admin.ch If you know of any Swiss citizens who did not receive this e-mail please forward this circular to them and inform the Swiss Embassy about their e-mail address. This will allow the Embassy to reach the Swiss community effectively. Thank you. Embassy of Switzerland Beijing, 08.04.2003 Dear compatriots, The Embassy of Switzerland would like to inform you, that the travel advice from the Federal Office of Public Health dated 2nd April 2003, based on recommendations of the World Health Organisation, is still valid: it is recommended that persons travelling to Hongkong and the province of Guangdong are advised to postpone non-essential travel. Last weekend a Finnish employee with the International Labour Organisation died in Beijing of SARS and a Canadian national has been hospitalised with SARS. The French School of Beijing will close on 9th April until 5th May 2003. The German Embassy School instead will be open as usual. The Consular service of the Swiss representations in China and Hongkong will operate unchanged. Information
concerning preventive measures to be taken can be found on the
website of the Federal Office of Public Health and the World
Health Organisation mentioned below. The Embassy is following the development of the situation very closely and any important information will be forwarded to the Swiss community immediately by e-mail. The Embassy advises you to consult the following websites on regular basis: Federal
Office of Public Health: www.bag.admin.ch If you know of any Swiss citizens who did not receive this e-mail please forward this circular to them and inform the Swiss Embassy about their e-mail address. This will allow the Embassy to reach the Swiss community effectively. Thank you. Embassy of Switzerland
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