Passengers entering Macao's entry checkpoints, except the Macao International Airport, are not required to fill out health declaration forms starting on Thursday, which has been in place for a year in epidemic prevention of SARS. 

The Macao Health Service said that based on the current assessment of the global and local SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) situation, it decided to suspend the implementation of the Health Declaration Form, which has been kept in place since the epidemic posed a threat in April last year.

In addition to contact means, the form requires passengers to honestly declare the latest health condition, especially syndromes concerning cold, cough or difficulty in breathing as well as the places they visited one week before they come to Macao. The Health Service has been updating the SARS prevention information based on the research on the forms.

The bureau said that there were no new probable SARS cases in China's mainland since April this year. However, as SARS virus tends to be active in winter, the bureau will adjust the prevention measures in November if necessary.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2004)