Beijing, May 12: Twelve more people died from the deadly Sars virus today, one of the worst on a single day, even as the Chinese government and the World Health Organisation shifted their focus to the vast countryside which is vulnerable to the highly contagious disease. As the virus continued to spread, authorities in Nanjing shut 566 hotels, hair salons, Internet cafes and Saunas besides quarantining 10,000 people.
In Hong Kong, three more deaths were reported today, taking the toll to 218. Five more new cases of Sars infection also surfaced.
The health ministry said that 12 more people died of Sars while 75 new infections were reported, taking the cumulative national death toll to 252 and the number of cases to 5,013.
Nine of the new deaths occurred in Beijing, currently the hardest hit place in the world. Authorities in Beijing also announced that 23,464 persons have been quarantined for Sars.
China's official media reported that a group of experts from who are currently inspecting Guangxi province in southwest China in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading to poor and under developed western region.
Guangxi, with a population of 47 million, reported 20 clinically diagnosed Sars cases and three deaths by May 11.
Until now, the who has been focusing mainly on Beijing and Guangdong province, which have seen the largest number of cases and deaths from Sars
Another group of experts from the WHO is visiting north China's Hebei province, one of the worst-hit by the epidemic.
Bureau Report