China has ordered schools in Beijing to stay closed for two more weeks to stem the spread of the SARS virus, which has killed 100 and infected about 1,900 in the capital.
Health officials say Beijing's SARS outbreak has begun to peak after about 100 new cases a day since late April which sparked widespread fear and some panic buying in the city.
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A man wears a protective mask near a line of Chinese flags Sunday May 4, 2003 in Shanghai>
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Beijing had 114 new infections and five deaths on Friday and Saturday. That dropped to 69 new cases and four deaths today, the health ministry said.
Elementary and primary schools in the city of 14 million, currently the hardest-hit place by SARS in the world, had been due to reopen on May 8th after a two-week suspension.
After covering up the extent of the disease for weeks, China finally began reporting more honest figures on April 20th. The Beijing mayor and national health minister were sacked and the May 1st Labour Day holidays cut short.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has killed 197 people in China, infected 4,125 and spread to 26 of 30 Chinese provinces, major cities and regions since emerging in the southern province of Guangdong in November.
Officials launched large-scale awareness campaigns, began mass disinfection of buses, trains and airplanes, placed thousands in quarantine and urged people to stay close to home for the holidays, which wind up tomorrow.
Officials worry about SARS spreading in the poor countryside, home to 70 per cent of China's 1.3 billion people but where hospitals receive only one fifth of national funding.