Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Taipei (Fides Service) – “We must avoid spreading panic over SARS among the public. Instead we must pray and show solidarity to doctors and patients” Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi of Kaohsiung said this to Fides Service when we asked about the situation in Taiwan.
The Cardinal said that the local Church has adopted the same measures issued by the Church in Hong Kong. “We ask people in church to wear face masks, avoid physical contact and receive Holy Communion in the hand. We are doing our best to prevent the disease from spreading.”
“There is tension among the people - the Cardinal says – especially because the media spreads alarm and fear of contagion. The local Church is trying to reassure the people, taking the necessary precautions by trusting completely in God. In every parish in Taiwan Sunday May 11, will be a day of special prayers for the victims of SARS. We bishops have urged the people to keep praying for the patients and for the medical staff fighting the disease and to provide all the necessary assistance”.
Some of the medical personnel also in quarantine in the Taipei hospital where SARS patients are being treated are Catholics and like the others they are working generously to fight the virus.
Addressing medical personnel the Cardinal says: “I want to express my deep appreciation for all that the doctors and nurses are doing even risking their own lives to help the patients recover. I would encourage Chinese Catholics to sustain the doctors and nurses with their prayers offering all the love and solidarity possible. I call on the whole human community to unite to overcome SARS”.
In Taiwan most cases are reported in the north where people tend to travel more and have more contact with mainland China and Hong Kong. In the south of the Island there are only a couple of suspected cases, the situation is less serious and life carries on as normal. SARS has also hit Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei, where two students in the infirmary have been put in quarantine. Classes have been suspended for two days. PA (Fides Service 7/5/2003 EM lines 35 Words: 399)
