World travellers told to avoid Toronto for at least three weeks

Toronto Star ^ | Apr. 23, 2003 | HELEN BRANSWELL

[eBelasco]

Irate officials blast SARS warning World travellers told to avoid Toronto for at least three weeks

HELEN BRANSWELL
CANADIAN PRESS

The World Health Organization's warning against travelling to Toronto is an unnecessary move that could permanently damage the city, says the microbiologist at the front lines of battling the city's SARS outbreak.

[eBelasco]

Do we have somebody working at the WHO? This is great news.

[goodnesswins]

Sooo....are all flights from Toronto, or for that matter, Canada halted to the US?

[Bahbah]

Oh, Canada, we are not behind this. Honest.

[2Jedismom]

Ping!

[eBelasco]

It's just a "recommendation" to stear clear of the place.

[demnomo]

I've got relatives in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario who think that the SARS panic is way overblown. Heard that the mayor of Toronto and the tourism commissioners are very, very unhappy about this state of affairs...

Well, maybe it's a good thing that Philly beat Toronto in game 7 of the NHL series.

[princess leah]

Was BIll and Hillary going to Toronto to meet Cretian?

[Squawk 8888]

The panic is overblown. It's business as usual for most of us, you're safe as long as you avoid medical facilities. 100 confirmed cases in a city of three million is pretty good odds as far as I'm concerned.

[Squawk 8888]

maybe it's a good thing that Philly beat Toronto in game 7 of the NHL series.

We should've given the Flyers a guided tour of Scarborough Grace Hospital- we would've taken the series in 4 games.

[Eala]

could permanently damage the city

Wow. That's pretty destructive.

[trebb]

says the microbiologist

So, are they using a tourism expert as a microbiologist, or was tourism and economics just a minor in the microbiologist's degree program?

[demnomo]

:)

Weren't some of the Buffalo Sabres players quarantined recently after a trip to Toronto? I seem to remember something, but don't know what became of the story.

I think Owen Nolan was playing injured. I recognise the look from his old San Jose Sharks playing days. Too bad. I believe Toronto is the team with the longest Stanley Cup drought. Not since 1967...

[demnomo]

Unfortunately, no. ;) They are all meeting on some fancy smancy Carribean island...

[demnomo]

Hopefully, there will be no "candid" photo ops of Bubba and Her Heinous cavorting on the island beaches. Ten years ago, the cellulite and lobster-red sun rashes were ugly enough...

[aristeides]

Ping.

[Judith Anne]

And now, they're at the beginning of their second outbreak...

[aristeides]

Eves rebuffs calls for SARS inquiry: Death toll rises to 32.

[aristeides]

Two deaths removed from SARS-suspect list.

[aristeides]

SARS corroding China's big export machine.

[aristeides]

WHO Questions China's Sharp SARS Falloff .