Beijing will not relax its anti-SARS efforts, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has removed Beijing from its list of SARS-affected areas and lifted the travel advisory against it, according to the city government.

The city government has issued a decree telling local people to continue SARS-prevention work regardless of the fact that the epidemic has been brought under effective control.

All the clinics for fever patients should remain operational, and all those who are suspected of SARS infection should be put under medical observation for two weeks. Meanwhile, the decree says all former SARS patients will be free to move around.

Furthermore, all existing preventive measures, such as these adopted for students, transients and visitors, must be strictly maintained, the decree says.

Local officials in charge of medical and sanitary work hoped that the anti-SARS campaign would help local people abandon bad habits like littering and public spitting and develop a healthy way of life.