As more cases of SARS were reported, TTSH closed its A&E Department on 23 March 2003 and became the designated SARS hospital. CGH's A&E attendance increased as ambulances were diverted to the other hospitals. To help cope with the additional patient load, all non-urgent and elective surgeries were suspended since 27 March 2003.

The battle at CGH started on 6 April 2003 when two nurses were transferred to TTSH for probable SARS. The first nurse was exposed to a CGH patient who was later diagnosed with SARS. The second nurse was exposed when looking after the first nurse. The hospital sprang into contact tracing mode to ensure the health of the patients. Fortunately, none of the patients exposed to the two nurses developed SARS.

"Although this is not the first infectious disease we faced as a healthcare institution, it is the first time that we are dealing with a relatively unknown disease spread by close contact and affecting so many healthcare workers," said Mr T K Udairam, CEO, CGH.

A special Q&A session on SARS was held on 16 April 2003 with Minister of State (Health) Dr Balaji Sadasivan answering questions from the hospital staff.

As most of the SARS cases started from hospitals, it is important for hospitals to take steps to control the infection and rethink work processes. A SARS taskforce was formed with the responsibility of modifying operations to combat the spread of SARS.

From 29 April 2003, public hospitals implemented a "No Visitors" policy as an added precaution to cut down the chance of visitors being infected while in the hospitals. It will also help prevent infection from being brought out of the hospitals into the community at large. From 1 June 2003, with the SARS situation under better control, the hospital has relaxed the policy to one nominated visitor per patient. All patients and visitors to the hospital will be screened and have their temperatures taken.