[aristeides]

It was also predictable -- a couple of weeks ago -- that letting all of these people leave Peking would have a disastrous effect. People were saying as much here on FR at the time. I wonder why the Chicom leaders permitted it.

[Prince Charles]

Those "time bombs" we wrote about back then look like they're starting to go off. What a shame; it will make this bug much, much harder to get the upper hand with now.

[Michael Barnes]

I wonder why the Chicom leaders permitted it

< tinfoil> Population control.. </ tinfoil>

[Judith Anne]

I guess the Chicom leaders just don't believe us FReepers...

[flamefront]

I know you have been following this adjustment of the statistics well, but here is a clear title:

Sars 'kills one in five'
The first detailed study of the spread of the Sars virus in Hong Kong has discovered that the death rate among sufferers was much higher than previously estimated.
...
the new study - the first to be based on a statistically sound sample of 1,425 cases - puts the death rate at one in five (20%) of those admitted to hospital.
...
The new research is published on the website of The Lancet medical journal.

[discostu]

I don't think they had a choice. Here's a map (not a good one, near as I can tell there are no good maps of Beijing) http://www.beijinghotelchina.com/travel/beijing_hotels.html
Hard to figure out how to close that all off. Remember they couldn't even manage to close of Tianimen Square. That's one of those things that's very easy to say needs to be done but very difficult to actually do.