Singapore is just as fast and efficient with delivering tourism arrival figures as they are with dealing with the SARS threat. Barely a few days after the end of the first two weeks in April, Singapore was able to report a 61% decline in arrivals for that two week period, confirming desperate times for Singapore's tourism and travel industries. In more positive news, Singapore has reopened the primary schools closed in the wake of the first stages of the crisis.

Meanwhile in Thailand, authorities are considering rescinding the requirement for tourists from the WHO listed SARS affected countries (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada) to wear face masks for their first two weeks in the kingdom. However full screening for symptoms continues for all arriving from affected countries.

Just on so called SARS affected countries, Taiwan is understandably pissed off with being included in the list, particularly as its infection and death rate is lower than many other countries not listed. It has caused diplomatic problems between Taiwan and other countries. China has also responded in kind to those countries who see fit to ban arrivals from China from obtaining visas as a result of SARS by banning organized trips to the former.

Its Dr WHO versus Asian values, as the WHO are starting to get the boot into China re the non-disclosure of a significant number of SARS patients in military hospitals. Yet again, one downside of Asian values - where "sensitive" information is kept secret when governments do not trust the population to interpret it "correctly" - is exposed as China becomes more a part of the global economy and world. It may well be that Chinese officials need to be sent for some little "re-education".