Sars warning repeated

The Department of Health has repeated its warning to avoid non-essential travel to any of the following Sars-affected areas: mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Toronto.

The department appealed to all organisations in both the government and private sectors to avoid bringing over persons who reside or have recently been to these areas. In the event that any such person arrives in Malta, organisations are to ensure that they do not go to their work place, university, school or conference meeting before 10 days have elapsed from their departure from any of the affected areas.

"The cooperation of all is solicited as all the above measures are being taken to avoid the Sars virus from entering Malta," it said. The Chinese Embassy yesterday issued a statement announcing that the World Health Organisation has lifted its warning against travel to four Chinese regions: Hebei, inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Tianjin, after it was found that Sars was no longer a potential threat to international travellers in these regions.