TAIPEI, Taiwan -- All train passengers in Taiwan have been ordered to wear masks as of Sunday, as the island recorded its highest one-day rise in SARS infections and four new deaths.
Like much of mainland China across the strait, Taiwan is struggling to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Taiwanese health officials on Saturday announced 23 new SARS cases -- the highest number yet for a single day. The total now stands at 172.
As Taiwan turned up the heat in its battle against the infectious disease, Hong Kong, one of the hardest hit regions in the world, was bouyed by another day of single digit new cases.
The territory on Saturday announced two deaths and seven new cases, bringing the toll to 212 dead from 1,674 infections.
On mainland China, five new fatalities were reported on Saturday -- two of them in Beijing -- raising its death toll to 235. The capital, which accounts for nearly half of China's 4,890 cases of infection, had 54 new cases.
In Taipei, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was spreading among people not known to have had contact with those who had it.
Earlier, officials had been able to quickly trace and isolate those infected -- many of whom had recently visited China or Hong Kong. But SARS has begun spreading rapidly within Taiwan's general community, making it harder to stop.
Taipei city officials ordered all passengers on the capital's subway train to wear masks beginning Sunday.
Also Saturday, the U.S. State Department said SARS concerns had prompted it to authorize "the voluntary departure of family members and non-emergency personnel" at its offices in the capital, Taipei, and the second largest city, Kaohsiung.
Shoppers found the doors closed at one of Taipei's largest department stores Saturday as managers ordered a major cleanup after an employee contracted SARS, The Associated Press reported.
About 175 employees have been quarantined at the Pacific Sogo Department Store following the May 3 hospitalization of a cashier with SARS -- but the store had remained open for business.
Also in Taipei, the city government evacuated 107 residents of the Huachang Public Housing Complex Saturday after it was sealed off Friday.
Like much of mainland China across the strait, Taiwan is struggling to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Taiwanese health officials on Saturday announced 23 new SARS cases -- the highest number yet for a single day. The total now stands at 172.
As Taiwan turned up the heat in its battle against the infectious disease, Hong Kong, one of the hardest hit regions in the world, was bouyed by another day of single digit new cases.
The territory on Saturday announced two deaths and seven new cases, bringing the toll to 212 dead from 1,674 infections.
On mainland China, five new fatalities were reported on Saturday -- two of them in Beijing -- raising its death toll to 235. The capital, which accounts for nearly half of China's 4,890 cases of infection, had 54 new cases.
In Taipei, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was spreading among people not known to have had contact with those who had it.
Earlier, officials had been able to quickly trace and isolate those infected -- many of whom had recently visited China or Hong Kong. But SARS has begun spreading rapidly within Taiwan's general community, making it harder to stop.
Taipei city officials ordered all passengers on the capital's subway train to wear masks beginning Sunday.
Also Saturday, the U.S. State Department said SARS concerns had prompted it to authorize "the voluntary departure of family members and non-emergency personnel" at its offices in the capital, Taipei, and the second largest city, Kaohsiung.
Shoppers found the doors closed at one of Taipei's largest department stores Saturday as managers ordered a major cleanup after an employee contracted SARS, The Associated Press reported.
About 175 employees have been quarantined at the Pacific Sogo Department Store following the May 3 hospitalization of a cashier with SARS -- but the store had remained open for business.
Also in Taipei, the city government evacuated 107 residents of the Huachang Public Housing Complex Saturday after it was sealed off Friday.
