Beijing issues new Sars warning

Beijing does not have enough beds to isolate patients

Beijing's acting mayor says hospitals are unable to cope with the high numbers of patients suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

Wang Qishan said there were not enough beds in designated units to take every patient.

But he did not say what was happening to victims of the disease who could not be treated in hospital.

The new warnings come amid increased regional efforts to stop the spread of the disease which has killed more than 350 people around the world.

Toronto warning lifted

China, the world's worst-affected country, reported 11 more Sars deaths and 166 new cases on Wednesday, bringing its total deaths from the virus to 159 and the case load to 3,460.

Hong Kong recorded seven more deaths and 17 new cases, but Indonesia said Sars was not the cause of death for a Taiwanese businessman suspected to have been the country's only case.

The World Health Organization (WHO) still advises people not to travel to parts of mainland China and Hong Kong, though it has lifted a similar warning about Toronto.

SARS WORLDWIDE

Known death tolls:

World: 812

Mainland China: 348

Hong Kong: 298

Taiwan: 84

Singapore: 32

Canada: 38

Source: WHO/local authorities

Global update

But while new cases appear to be tailing off in Hong Kong and other affected areas, they are still on the increase in mainland China.

"The situation in Beijing remains severe for Sars prevention and treatment. Infections have not yet been cut off," Mr Wang said in a statement.

Mr Wang, who was appointed last week after his predecessor was fired for mishandling the outbreak, said Beijing has identified 21 hospitals to tackle the disease.

But he added: "Due to a shortage of berths at designated hospitals, not all suspected Sars patients can be hospitalised there in a timely manner."

Correspondents say that could be crucial, as quarantining patients away from the general population appears to have been key to the success of Vietnam, the only country declared to have controlled an outbreak.

Other developments:

• Scientists and health officials meet in Toronto on Wednesday to discuss how to prevent the spread of Sars - the conference will include delegates from Asia, Europe, the Americas and from the WHO

• The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges and securities regulators announce they will close until 12 May over Sars concerns

• About 200,000 primary school students in Singapore have received digital thermometers from the government for daily temperature checks to prevent the spread of Sars

• Australia announces it will host a special international seminar on Sars next week involving emergency medicine experts from 40 nations

China was strongly criticised for its initial reaction to Sars by the WHO.

The virus is believed to have originated in the southern province of Guangdong, which neighbours Hong Kong. But state officials concealed its spread and impact until it became an international problem.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Tuesday said Sars was a grave and long-term problem and said China's early response had been "inadequate".

Asian regional leaders on Tuesday agreed joint measures to try to stop the spread of the virus - including the screening of all travellers, isolating and treating identified Sars cases and sharing information.