PLA Daily 2003-05-16

　　The newly-built Xiaotangshan Hospital, especially designed to handle severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) sufferers, farewelled its first group of recovered patients yesterday.

　　In addition to the seven released, another 10 people are due to leave the hospital today and tomorrow, according to Senior Colonel Zhang Yanling, who is president of the hospital, which is under the management of army medical workers.

Four SARS patients holding flowers stand during a farewell ceremony held in front of the Xiaotangshan Hospital, May 15, 2003. (Xinhua photo)

　　Liu Zhiquan, a 38-year-old Beijing resident among yesterday's first batch of departing patients, said: "The medical services provided by the hospital and my good psychological condition are two of the major factors in my recovery."

　　Liu and the others who were also released from the hospital yesterday are now required to stay at home in quarantine for 10 days, according to Zhang.

　　All of the seven patients -- five Beijing residents and two migrant workers -- have met the standards imposed by the Ministry of Health in regards to being considered healthy, according to the hospital's Vice-President Zhou Xianzhi.

The SARS patients pose victory signs in the Xiaotangshan Hospital on the outskirts of Beijing, May 15, 2003. (Xinhua photo)

　　Zhou said they have not had fevers for at least eight days and the pathological changes in their lungs have mostly disappeared.

　　According to a source, most of the 649 SARS patients in the Xiaotangshan Hospital are recovering. Those who fully recover will leave the hospital in three groups each week.

　　(May 16, PLA Daily)