Toronto update

[Anonymous]

As of this morning,the CDC have advised that it is not necessary to avoid flying to Toronto. They have 3 staff who have done that themselves.
They have cautioned against visiting hospitals that have patients with SARS in them.
The local health units have been trying to make that point for some time.
Logic may well prevail here.
The CDC will be trying to assist in identifying the route the disease is taking, in its' spread.
So far, the worst issue is actual healthcare workers not quarantining themselves.
regards / Mike

[dknelson]

I hope for Toronto's and the NMRA's sake that the convention can continue BUT -- my employer has just imformed me that if I go to a SARS area I have to stay at home for ten days before returning to work -- at my own expense by the way, this is not extra vacation. If Toronto is added to that list I suspect the consequence would be nobody would attend even if the government said it was OK.
I continue to wonder -- what with all these models now being made in China and with Athearn moving their production to China -- if China is quananteened what does that mean for model railroading?
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Well, if employers are going to basically ( or effectively )prohibit travel to Toronto, I can see where everything scheduled for that city will be cancelled.
The economic impact will be devastating, and there is already panic on that front.

As far as China, the SARS virus cannot live on product or packaging.It's a people-borne problem. BUT, we well might see a slowdown, or stoppage of shipments due to controls placed on the people who would normally man the ships and aircraft.
regards / Mike

[Anonymous]

Keep up the good work. I find it interesting that for the last 10 years someone has given me the flu. I always get it in the winter and it knocks me out. This winter I didn't get it. Why - I believe it is because I washed my hands more often. IF your listen to your doctor he will tell you this is the best way to avoid ANY flu. I say again - the more people that don't come to the summer show the better I will like it. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

[Anonymous]

Yessir, that SARS is some scary stuff. In MY job,I deal with a whole lot of Canadian truckers. I'm almost afraid to shake their hand. I don't want to strap on a mask every time I see these fellows, I don't want to hurt their feelings. After all, these are the same guys that that have been coming around for years. But the "Government" says that SARS is rampant in Canada. So, what to do? Is there a doctor in the house that can straighten out this SARS mess?
T.C.

[dknelson]

OK it is now official. If I go to Toronto for pleasure I have to spend 2 weeks at home AT MY OWN EXPENSE before returning to work. So the one week vacation to go to the NMRA convention becomes a three week vacation whether I have the vacation time or not! Now that could of course change by summer .... but when are reservations and travel plans cancellable? That may be the big question.
Dave Nelson

[DavidH]

Where in the world do you people get your information from?? SARS is not rampant in Canada. You would stand a much greater chance of dieing accidentally on the way to Toronto than in getting SARS once you got there. There are a handful of cases confined to hospital environments.

The World Health Organization has made a major faux pas in issuing a travel advisory for Toronto, probably for political reasons so they wouldn't appear to be dumping on China. This travel advisory will almost certainly be rescinded by WHO tomorrow.
I would go to Toronto today without thinking twice about it. The media has done a dreadful job of reporting this story, to put it kindly, once again proving they are in the business of selling advertising, not informing the public.

David

[BRAKIE]

Truth be known we properly have just as many cases of SARS here as they do in Canada..But of course that will be kept as a secrete lest the country goes into a panic.Look how many folks ran out and bought sheet plastic and duct tape to seal up their homes over a panic because somebody mention a terrorist attack if we went to war with Iraq..Still the treat is real and very little is being said about it.

[Anonymous]

It's OK folks, really it is.
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the healthcare professionals who led the way.
regards / Mike

[BR60103]

I was talking to one of the convention organizers today, and he says that the convention will go ahead unless the government bans all public gatherings.
--David

[BRAKIE]

David,I for one am glad to hear that.I never been to Canada and I am using the NMRA convention as a excuse to go.I am happy that the calmer heads didn't give into the needless panic cause by the news media.