Screening for SARS at domestic airports stopped

MALE, July 1 (HNS) -- The government has discontinued the screening for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) at domestic airports from Sunday. According to an official from the Department of Public Health, screening passengers for SARS has been discontinued from Sunday. The official also said that screening international passengers for SARS has also been stopped. "But still there will be doctors at Port Health. Observations will be made but screening tests will not be carried out," said the official. Screening domestic passengers for SARS began at the end of April. Department of Public Health said in addition to domestic passengers, excluding tourists who come from Taiwan, and Toronto, tourists who come from all other destinations of the world are allowed to visit the Maldives. But people who come from Toronto and Taiwan will be allowed to come to Maldives only if they spend a minimum of 10 days in another country, said DPH. DPH had imposed a regulation on May 6 that screens passengers who come from South and Southeast Asian countries. But as the situation of SARS has improved around the world, the government has stopped screening passengers from these regions on May 11. No suspected SARS cases were reported in Maldives.