Struggling to deal with the spiraling SARS epidemic, China on Wednesday ordered the closure of all schools in the capital for a fortnight and sent hundreds of investigators to look for those with symptoms of the killer disease to be treated in six designated hospitals.

A daily deadline to every town in the country has also been given to report cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome with the Ministry of Health giving strict orders to include cases in all hospitals and those in the military facilities.

In Beijing 558 people are confirmed to have contracted the disease and another 666 are classified as suspect as the toll throughout the country has gone up to 97.

A 39-year-old New Zealand tourist with suspected symptoms has been discovered in northwest Shaanxi province as he was about to board a flight to Beijing and has been quarantined and receiving treatment, the state media reported.

Education authorities in China have decided to extend the suspension of classes for an extra two weeks. The measure has been taken to 'protect the lives and health of more than 1.7 million pupils', according to an official statement.

Schools were due to close next week over the Mayday holiday, but the break has been extended.

Mid-term exams have been cancelled and pupils have been asked not to go to public places, reports said.

With the virus spreading like wild fire, China's health ministry also issued daily deadlines for every town to report cases. Each of China's provincial health departments must now report figures in the ministry of health by noon each day.

Authorities had also ordered a policy of 'zero reporting' whereby even if there were no confirmed cases counties must still make a daily report.

Meanwhile, China has not yet decided on attending the special informal ASEAN summit, a senior official has said.

In Shanghai, a World health Organisation team began its third day of investigations.

In Hong Kong, which has recorded 250 suspected cases of SARS, announced an 11.8 billion Hong Kong dollar [1.5 billion US] economic package to lessen the impact of the deadly outbreak.

According to the WHO, SARS has resulted in the death of 228 people and infected 3,947 people in 25 countries.

Complete Coverage: SARS Attack