Capital moves to counter fears of air-cons.

(From South China Morning Post)

Byline: Michael Jen-siu in Beijing

As summer heats up in Beijing, city officials are using the media and a telephone hotline to reassure a sceptical public that air-conditioners do not normally spread Sars.

Last week, Beijing newspapers carried full-page guidelines on safe use of air-conditioners for offices, homes, cars and buses. Although the guidelines recommend natural ventilation, they say most air-conditioners are safe if kept clean or used in combination with open windows. Most public buildings in Beijing have not used air-conditioning this year.

The city's hotline for Sars-related air-conditioning questions has received about 1,000 calls since it opened on May 6. Callers sometimes mistake hospital air-conditioning precautions to mean every air-conditioner in town should be turned off, said Xu Zifeng, a hotline consultant and researcher.

"Basically, with the Sars period being a lot better, it's okay to use air-conditioning in your car or home or office," Mr Xu said. "Since [work units] have taken other control measures, like not letting people come in from outside, there is no need to worry about it."

The city's publicity comes as temperatures climb towards 30 degrees Celsius. Major hotels, many restaurants and most taxis are not using air-conditioners, instead opening windows to let in fresh air.