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The two-day China-ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) Entry-Exit Quarantine Meeting On SARS opens in
Beijing June 1, 2003. |
BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhuanet) -- China and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) passed an action plan Sunday in
Beijing to strengthen entry-exit quarantine cooperation in controlling the
spread of SARS.
The quarantine and entry-exit management authorities
from China and ten ASEAN countries passed the Entry-Exit Quarantine Action Plan
for Controlling the Spread of SARS by Governments of the People's Republic of
China and ASEAN.
According to the action plan, all cooperating parties
shall strengthen the health quarantine measures for entry-exit travelers at the
points of entry and exit, and equip the points of entry andexit with medical
professionals and relevant checking and protective devices and facilities.
Entry-exit travelers are to accept temperature
screening checks and necessary medical inquiry for SARS, or severe acute
respiratory syndrome, and complete a health declaration card. Should cooperating
parties discover possible SARS patients from arriving travelers, the party of
departure shall be notified in the quickest manner, the action plan says.
Should cooperating parties find any possible SARS
patient at its own points of entry, the individual shall be referred to health
or quarantine authorities for appropriate isolation and treatment.
The conveyances boarded by the SARS patient shall be
strictly disinfected. During the voyage of ships of the cooperating
parties,should possible SARS patients occur among the passengers or crew
members, the carrier may contact the nearest port authority of the cooperating
party and stop at the nearest harbor for emergency medical treatment.
Cooperating parties will grant priority customs
facilitation to the medicines, chemical and biological agents, medical devices,
equipment and protective facilities used for the prevention and treatment of
SARS.
The plan also requires the cooperating parties
establish an effective close cooperation mechanism and exchange knowledge on the
effective prevention and treatment of SARS.
When cooperating parties temporarily close points of
entry to prevent the spread of SARS, the concerned parties are to be notified in
advance through diplomatic channels according to the related open border
agreements already signed. Enditem
