What was SARS like?

SARS, at its worst, changed life in China completely. Here in Beijing schools and universities simply shut down, subways and buses were deserted and you could play five-a-side football on Chang'an Avenue with only the occassional policeman bothering you.

Areas outside of Beijing were less badly affected, but schools desperate to be seen to be doing something - anything - made up lots of nice regulations about staff and students not being allowed to leave the campus, all rooms having to be disinfected twice a day, etc. This lead to plenty of heated rows between already nervous foreign teachers and their schools.

The purpose of all this was much less about preventing SARS, and more about appearing to join the nations knee-jerk struggle to prevent the killer virus. Unfortunately the many laudable anti-spitting, pro-health campaigns started at the time seem to have withered.

What about now?

You will have no problems a year after SARS that you wouldn't have had a year before. You may find that your X-rays are examined more closely when you have your medical, or that you have to fill in a health declaration form at airports or hotels, but apart from that, all is back to normal. Or as normal as China ever was . . .

SARS II: The Return?

Could it happen again? Yes, of course it could. However, hopefully second time round mistakes will not be repeated and the situation will be managed somewhat more effectively. Also, if SARS does reappear there's no reason to believe it will do so in China - and it's no reason to consider not coming.