Beijing’s new mayor denied speculation that the capital was about to be sealed off, but admitted today that its hospitals were overloaded with SARS cases as China and Hong Kong reported 18 new deaths.

UN health officials today said Vietnam was the first country to have successfully contained SARS, and said there was still time to stop the deadly virus spreading much further.

Theatres, cinemas, Internet cafes and other public entertainment venues in Beijing were closed today in an attempt to stop the spread of Sars as China’s health ministry reported nine new deaths from the disease.