Recent polls conducted in Beijing show that the majority of local residents are satisfied with the measures taken by the government to prevent and control the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) disease.

In a poll carried out on 65 urban households in Dongcheng District, 95.4 percent of respondents expressed confidence that SARS will be defeated.

Some 26 percent of respondents said they prefer biking to work instead of taking the bus out of fear of SARS infection. Over 26 percent of households named watching TV as their principal form of entertainment, followed by reading and surfing the Internet.

The poll also showed that 90 percent of those surveyed had canceled travel/sightseeing plans. Household spending on health products increased by 81 percent, while that for clothing purchases declined by 36.9 percent.

Another poll of 215 urban and rural households in Fengtai District showed that 95 percent of respondents believe that the Chinese people will triumph in the battle against SARS, under the leadership of the government. Some 99 percent said they know how to prevent the epidemic.

A sample survey of 1,800 urban dwellers around Beijing, conducted by the city statistics bureau, showed that 95 percent had become less fearful of SARS.

More than 91 percent said they are satisfied with the government's frankness on providing information about the SARS situation in the city, while 94.5 of them are satisfied with the government's anti-SARS measures and the market supply.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2003)