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In China's Capital, 'We're Panicking'
Washington Post ^ | April 18, 2003 | John Pomfret

Posted on 04/18/2003 3:14:19 AM PDT by sarcasm

BEIJING, April 17 -- There were moments today when this city of 13 million people appeared deserted.

At Bank of China branches, there were no lines. The traffic at Western Station, the city's main rail terminal, has dropped 75 percent, to 80,000 passengers a day.

< SNIP >

Vice Premier Wu Yi, who is coordinating the government's response to the epidemic, has warned representatives of the service and travel industries about severe economic losses, sources said. The China International Travel Service has already reported a cancellation rate of 80 percent.

"SARS, for sure, will have an influence on the economy's performance in China," said Yao Jingyuan, an economist at the National Bureau of Statistics. Yao said it was "too early to make any forecasts," but private economists said China's economic growth rate this year would be at least 1 percentage point lower than previously estimated.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: sars
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To: LiberationIT
Yes! Jocelyn could hold a masturbation seminar! That would help them...wouldn't it?
41 posted on 04/18/2003 11:32:58 AM PDT by Im Your Huckleberry
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To: Merdoug
Something else that bugs me is Canada's higher death rate. They are almost 20%! Why?

It is easy to hide an infection. It is somewhat harder, but not impossible, to hide a death.

Anybody who expects the Chinese to tell the truth about SARS is dreaming.

42 posted on 04/18/2003 11:36:22 AM PDT by gridlock (All disease in the People's Paradise was eliminated under the last Five Year Plan, don'tcha know...)
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To: LiberationIT
QUICK!!! Someone send Jocelyn Elders over there!!

or did you mean Joyce Riley,agent orange,gulf war syndrome,vaccines?
gulfwarvets.com/joyce riley link>

43 posted on 04/18/2003 11:40:26 AM PDT by green team 1999
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To: goldstategop
SARS could end up crippling the Communist system.

Good.

44 posted on 04/18/2003 11:43:11 AM PDT by A2J (Daschle is a poo-poo head.)
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To: goldstategop
clinton "for god sake,condenm their actions"
45 posted on 04/18/2003 11:45:03 AM PDT by green team 1999
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To: mabelkitty
How in the hell did that happen?

Easy.

They've embraced the same mutated version of "freedom" that America seems to be embracing, i.e., "individual liberty trumps individual responsibility."

46 posted on 04/18/2003 11:46:37 AM PDT by A2J (Daschle is a poo-poo head.)
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To: gridlock
"Anybody who expects the Chinese to tell the truth about SARS is dreaming." That is true and I would not be surprised if the US were to fudge the numbers as well.
47 posted on 04/18/2003 11:48:20 AM PDT by TBall
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To: TBall
The Chinese government has fudged the numbers, and as a result there is panic there now. If the U.S. government fudges the numbers, there'll be panic here too.
48 posted on 04/18/2003 11:50:18 AM PDT by aristeides
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To: aristeides
There will be panic either way. The only way to stop the panic is to stop SARS and in my opinion drastic measures might be the only way to save a whole lot of people.
49 posted on 04/18/2003 11:53:24 AM PDT by TBall
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To: LiberationIT
QUICK!!! Someone send Jocelyn Elders over there!!

Why? Will teaching them to put condoms on bananas cure SARS?

50 posted on 04/18/2003 11:53:56 AM PDT by varon
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To: aristeides
I would disagree with you that the US will fudge the numbers. It seems that the CDC plays these things pretty straight. It is too difficult to control information in the US, because there is not a central point for information distribution. The Chinese have a great "advantage" over us in this regard.

The downside for them is that when they tell people that there is nothing to fear, nobody believes them.

51 posted on 04/18/2003 11:56:06 AM PDT by gridlock (On to Damascus!)
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To: varon
OK all; I'm just trying to be politically correct, diverse, and sensitive and caring for the feelings for the Chinese people. Obviously you all have your sights set on doing something effective rather than symbolic. So be it, damn you!

I'm offended I tell you! Can't a guy bring out his softer side for crying out loud! IS IT A SIN TO HAVE FEELINGS!!!!!

Jocelyn (and Bill,) would care, why can't I?

Sob, sob........

Okay. I'm over it now.... Someone get me a tissue (Puffs please, my nose is sensitive.) As you were, men (and ladies.) I'll get over it. This is a support group, right? Have I wandered? Oh, it's all so confusing..... Where's my Teddy??
52 posted on 04/18/2003 12:20:40 PM PDT by LiberationIT
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