No medical workers in Beijing's designated SARS treatment hospitals have contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) since May 7, said Zhang Mao, vice-mayor of Beijing on Friday.

While reporting to the fourth meeting of the standing committee of the 12th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Zhang said reducing the SARS infection rate among medical workers was an important issue which had attracted great attention from all circles of society.

The Beijing municipal government has increased training of medical workers in designated SARS hospitals in an attempt to improve their safety.

The Ministry of Health has listed infection rates of medical workers as an important criterion when assessing the performance of its hospitals and standardized detailed procedures for the sterilization, quarantine and virus prevention work of medical workers.

Zhang said the Beijing municipal government had taken over a number of hotels for medical workers to have rests from the frontline.

To date, a total of seven batches of 4,000 medical staff have enjoyed the special treatment.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2003)