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This has got nothing to do with socialized medicine. You think a virus cares?

I agree that SARS has nothing to do with socialized medicine. Perhaps I should clarify myself.

In my point of "the problem of closing off hospitals might not be so severe" I meant that if Canadians had more choices(that would be made available with a greater free market option), the healthcare shortage caused by hospitals being forced to close due to the SARS virus would not be as great. Flame away.

My post to you was also aimed at some of the other posters that seem to think a virus cares who,and where it infects someone. I don't know what type of State or Federal health officers there are in the US but in Ontario the hospitals were closed by the two Doctors mentioned in this article. Wouldn't matter how the hospital was funded.

TORONTO, April 8 /CNW/ - Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. James Young, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Security, today stressed the importance of home isolation in containing the rise of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS) cases.
"The successful containment of SARS depends on people who are in home isolation staying there for the full 10 days," Dr. D'Cunha said. "It is also important for these people to contact their local public health unit,if they develop any symptoms while at home."
Dr. Young said preliminary reports on the possible 11th SARS-related patient death being investigated, as reported Monday, indicate that the patient did not have SARS.
"Preliminary indications are that this patient did not die of SARS, however, the investigation is continuing so that we can confirm this information," Dr. Young said.
Health officials also clarified that this patient death occurred at the West Lake Terrace Long-Term Care Centre in Prince Edward County and not at the Trenton site of the Quinte Healthcare Corporation, as was reported on Monday.
There continues to be restrictions on services and visitor access at hospitals across the province.
"We are working with hospitals on a plan to ensure a timely reintroduction of services at Ontario hospitals," Dr. Young said. "This plan will take a few days to finalize and communicate. Until then, we are asking for the public's understanding that access to visitors and volunteers will continue to be restricted."
Health officials continue to urge the public to maintain proper hand washing techniques and avoid visiting hospitals and long-term care facilities,unless medically necessary.
As of today, April 8, 2003, there are approximately 190 cases of SARS in Ontario, which includes 91 probable and 99 suspect cases. To date, 40 patients treated for SARS have been discharged from hospital.