The report that an assistant in Mass Communication Department was an infected SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) suspect earlier days was eventually proved a panic. The assistant withdrew from Mackay Memorial Hospital in Tamsui last Wednesday. 39 teachers and students quarantined at home due to this case returned to school; also, the departments of Mass Communication and Information and Communication restored classes accordingly.

The assistant went to Mackay Memorial Hospital in Tamsui due to fever. She was isolated since she was diagnosed as a SARS-infected suspect. Her fever cooled down during the six-day period at hospital. Three blood tests indicated that the Leucocyte index was normal and virus test was negative. The SARS-infected suspect was therefore removed from the list. She withdrew from hospital now; however, a 14-day home quarantine (from May 14 to May 28) was required. She will return to work on May 29, 2003.

Lee Mei-hua, Chair of Department of Mass Communication (DMC), who was in home quarantine for a week, said: “She thought that she would take a good rest during the week of home quarantine, yet she turned out to be busier than usual because she received a lot of phone calls from colleagues and students, expressing their concerns.”

Lee, a junior in the Department of Information and Communication (DIC), originally planned to celebrate Mother’s Day with his mother in Kaohsiung. His plan cancelled because of quarantine, too.

Also, students who work for Tamkang Times on a part-time basis are affected by this case. A student worker, who was mistaken for a student from Communication Department, was not allowed to enter the office when distributing Tamkang Times. Those DMC students who were not listed on home quarantine complained when they were not allowed to attend classes in other departments: “Why we are seen as plague since we are very healthy.” They urged all faculty and students to show sympathy to SARS victims.

Seniors of DMC and DIC will not participate in the graduation examination that will begin this week. Since many of their courses were not completed due to the case, teachers may arrange the examination dates after these courses are completed.

In the meantime, Chen, a graduate student and currently an assistant in the Department of Information and Communication, was a second reported SARS-infected suspect. She resumed her classes on May 17 after being isolated at home for a week since he withdrew from hospital on May 13.

Both Chen and her boyfriend, a SARS-infected suspect after returning from a trip to Mainland China, were quarantined in Armed Forces Hospital in Sungshan, Taipei since April 30. Her fever and cough were relieved; her X-rate report also showed her lung was normal. She was removed from the SARS victims list and withdrew from hospital on May 13. She returned to school on May 17.