Health authorities in Canada have closed a hospital to new patients because of a possible fresh cluster of SARS cases and reinforced orders for all staff treating patients in the Toronto area to wear gloves, masks and gowns.

Nurses today accused Canadian hospital officials of ignoring warnings of Toronto’s latest SARS outbreak.

Hundreds more people in Canada have been told to quarantine themselves at home due to possible exposure to a new cluster of SARS cases in Toronto, health officials said.

TORONTO was back on the map of SARS trouble spots yesterday after health officials there confirmed three new deaths and eight new cases.