Taipei life slowly returning to normal

Since the SARS outbreak in late April, many Taipei residents have avoided going to crowded public places for fear that they might catch the deadly virus.

The SARS blow to the retail and service industry was further aggravated after two large department stores reported suspected SARS cases and were forced to temporarily shut down for disinfection.

As a result, operators of hotels, restaurants, retail stores and entertainment venues saw their business decline due to lack of patrons.

However, the panic-stricken public appeared to feel relieved following health officials’ assurance that the SARS outbreak has been largely brought under control.

The public can return to their pre-SARS life patterns, Lee Ming-liang, head of the government’s anti-SARS committee, said Saturday. He added that the increase in SARS cases is expected to slow down with the outbreaks in several hospital outbreaks being effectively contained.

As of yesterday afternoon, some business owners gladly reported double or even triple increases in sales. A concert for pop idol group “Energy” outside of a department store near the Taipei World Trade Center drew hundreds of cheering fans. A software company sold out a total of 500 software games in less than two hours during special promotions in Taipei and Kaohsiung, the two worst SARS-hit areas.

Several restaurants also enjoyed a 20 percent to 50 percent increase in business.

“I think most people have been confined to their homes for too long and they really want to get some fresh air,” said a restauranter.

But a restaurant manager noted that most customers prefer to sit next to windows, thinking that better air circulation can help fend off the SARS virus.

Retail sales specialists said they are optimistic that the consumers’ spending power will soon resume to the level seen in pre-SARS days.

But the government’s top anti-SARS commander Lee stressed that the fight agianst SARS has not been won, urging the public not to let their guards down yet.

“What I meant by ‘returning to normal lives’ is that the public can go to business meetings, social events, or shopping as usual but with some precautions,” Lee said.

They should still avoid confined places and wear masks at all times on public transportation system, he added. “If you can not be sure the people you come in close contact with don’t have SARS or high fever, you have to take precautions.”

Lee also said that his statement of a stabilized SARS situation was made based on concrete evidence, adding that the public should be informed about the situation so that they would not have unnecessary reactions on SARS.

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