Posted on 04/17/2003 6:43:39 AM PDT by per loin
Yep. We are still doing better than most nations, just not spectacularly better.
BTW, i have a graph which combines both onsets and hospitalizations since Mar 13. It is a bit inaccurate, as I had to estimate numbers from the HK graph, but if anyone has a website, and would like to post it, it's available.
That explains the numerical discrepancy.
So why haven't they updated the graph?
Agree completely.
I can see holding back info that they are not yet sure about, but they could release a lot more than they have. Failure to inform just fuels speculation.
FROM CANADIAN PRESS "We have identified a couple of instances in which a SARS-like illness has arisen, and as a precaution, we will be distributing written notices to all of the occupants of the building," said Dr. Sheela Basrur, Toronto's medical officer of health. "That will be done today." The notices will describe the fact that there is a "potential risk" to the building's residents and advise them to go to an emergency room if they show symptoms. The two cases do not have an apparently direct link to one another, which raises concern, Basrur said. "We don't want to just want to close our eyes and cross our fingers. We want to go out there and assure ourselves that in fact if anyone else is ill we've found them." In another development, a group of 450 people who participated in a business conference last weekend in Montreal have agreed to voluntary quarantine after learning they were in contact with a Toronto man who has been diagnosed with a probable case of SARS. Also today, a retirement home in the city's north end said that a paid companion who visited its facility was not breaching a quarantine order, as had been earlier believed.
The Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care closed its doors to paid companions Wednesday night because it believed a member of a Roman Catholic prayer group under quarantine had come to the residence in defiance of strict public health instructions to stay home in isolation. The centre's vice president of medical services said it turned out the person was not a member of the prayer group and therefore not subject to the quarantine. "The individual . . . in fact was not in quarantine, it took a while to clarify that. They have been cleared by public health," said Michael Gordon. "No one has entered Baycrest who was either symptomatic with SARS or was actually supposed to be in quarantine but wasn't." "There was no risk of transmitting any disease." He said an investigation revealed that the individual belonged to the larger religious group but not the congregation in question that was placed under quarantine. Nevertheless, Gordon said paid helpers would continue to be banned from the facility. "We're taking very prudent steps. We're very protective of the people who live with us - they are our family." There were reports earlier in the day that two paid helpers may have put elderly residents at risk, but Gordon said that was a misunderstanding. A staff member is currently under quarantine for suspected exposure but has not violated the isolation order, said Gordon. On Tuesday, Baycrest eased some of its visiting restrictions after having been deemed a low-risk (for SARS) health-care facility by the provincial Health Ministry. That means none of its patients or staff have been diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome. The easing of restrictions meant residents of the facility were permitted one visitor at a time. Private companions were also allowed to return to assist their clients, though anyone entering the facility had to go through infection control procedures. The facility acknowledged today it was having a problem getting some visitors to comply with all the strict rules aimed at preventing the spread of SARS, including the requirement to wear masks. Its Web site warns that visitors who defy the mask order will be forced to leave the facility. In Montreal, Dr. John Carsley, head of the infectious diseases unit of the city's public health department, said the man with a probable case of SARS who was in contact with the business conference was diagnosed upon his return to his home in Toronto. Ontario authorities then contacted their Quebec counterparts and almost all the conference participants were notified and agreed to stay in quarantine until Tuesday as a precaution. About 360 of the participants were from the Montreal area, while 90 Americans were also at the meeting. The false alarm over the paid companions underscores the immense stress facilities in the Toronto region are under as they fight to keep SARS from infecting their residents and their staff. It comes at a time when infection control specialists have been warning that Toronto's outbreak is in danger of breaking out of the containment rings public health officials have tried to erect around it, if members of the public don't follow public health instructions to the letter. For the general public, those instructions include frequent hand washing and staying home if one is feeling unwell. For those who have been instructed to isolate themselves, that means holing up in their homes, away from their family members, for a 10-day period. Health Minister Tony Clement denied today the outbreak was out-of-control. And the province's chief medical officer of health warned his staff will play hardball with people who don't obey orders. "For anybody who's not going to follow simple instructions, the law is there, we'll use it," said Dr. Colin D'Cunha. "Public health generally doesn't go swinging the heavy hand of the law. By nature we're not police persons, we believe in being reasonable. But we'll take those steps if we need to."
Residents at a condominium building in the northeast of Toronto were being warned today they were at risk after two, unlinked cases of SARS-like illness were detected among occupants of the 252-unit building.
And drives info junkies nuts. I know.
I just want to know everything that can possibly be known, plus a little bit. I'm not an info junkie. I'm not an info junkie. I'm not an info junkie. I'm not an...
Maybe I can find a self help group. Got any info on that?
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