Mobile Operators React to Pneumonia Outbreak

Hong Kong's SmarTone Mobile has ordered all its retail staff to wear masks to help prevent the spread of the Atypical Pneumonia (SARS) infection in Hong Kong. The company has also increased the intensity of their shop's daily cleaning and "sterilization". SmarTone says that it takes these preventive measures in response to the guidelines issued by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association and in support to the call made by the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.

SmarTone has also distributed masks to all its employees working at offices in addition to front-line staff.

In Singapore, Motorola has also confirmed that one of its factory staff has contracted the SARS virus. The company has closed the factory, and asked 531 night shift staff to stay at home. Up to 100 staff may also be quarantined by the medical authorities as they worked in proximity to the infected worker.

"A number of that total will be receiving the (quarantine) order, it's going to be a proportion of that total number," a spokeswoman with Motorola told Reuters."

Posted to the site on 31st March 2003