Currently, there are 11 SARS cases in Sichuan Province with no additional cases this week. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is experiencing some impact on business in light of SARS. The local government has postponed large exhibitions and shows scheduled in May and June. The local government also recommended that meetings with more than 40 attendees should be postponed or cancelled. All American missions have either postponed to September/October or cancelled. CS Chengdu is receiving fewer inquires and requests from local companies than before.

Domestic business travel is still functioning, though at a lower level. CS Chengdu contacted six most popular hotels in Chengdu and learned that the hotel occupancy rate is around 35%, a drop of 15% from the same period last year.

All government offices remain open. All the shops and department stores open, though with a decreased number of customers. Students are going to school daily, but are required to have their temperature taken before entering school. The entertainment businesses are heavily impacted by SARS but most are still open for business; fewer people are going to theaters, bars, cinemas, theaters, karaoke, electronic game arcades, internet cafes, and tea houses than in the past. Hospitals are reporting fewer patients are coming in for elective treatment.
Signs are posted on many businesses and public transportation vehicles indicating that they have been recently sterilized and some say that people with infectious diseases should not enter. Street traffic is not visibly changed. Use of face masks on the street is minimal.

Overall, SARS is having an impact on business in Chengdu, but it is not severe at this point in time.