Doctors are taking no risks with Sars cases

This brings the number of deaths since Sars was first reported in Canada's largest city in April to 33.

Health officials say the number of active suspected cases has decreased slightly from 68, down two from Friday.

But all those people are in hospital and 21 are reported to be in critical condition.

Provincial health officials say a 66-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man who had Sars died on Saturday, four days after the last reported deaths.

There were few other details made available.

Meanwhile a senior doctor at a hospital where a medical student with Sars came into contact with newborn babies and their mothers says the situation there is hopeful.

It was reported on Friday that the unidentified student came down with the illness two days after coming out of the required 10-day quarantine.

But so far none of the mothers, babies or hospital staff who came into contact with the medical student show any sign of Sars.

Hospital reopens Elsewhere, a Taiwanese hospital believed to be the source of the Sars epidemic has been re-opened, six weeks after quarantine measures forced its closure.

Taiwan hopes the worst is over

The move is being seen as a clear sign that the disease which has claimed 81 lives on the island - including a doctor and three nurses at the hospital - is over.

Another 680 people in Taiwan have been infected.

The Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital quarantined 200 patients and 900 staff when its closure was ordered.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou said he deeply regretted the loss of the hospital's medical staff. "The Hoping hospital did stumble. But now we stood up again," he said at a ceremony attended by hospital staff and nearby residents.

Elsewhere in Taipei, the superintendent of the Yangming Hospital has resigned over the way the outbreak was handled there.

Travel warning

The Department of Health announced that the hospital was to be fined for major flaws that had been discovered in the infection control system.

The developments came as Taiwan was appealing to the World Health Organization to lift its travel warning against the island.

Taiwan's health officials say they expect the travel advisory to be lifted on Tuesday and the government hopes this will help bring back foreign tourists.