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MrPopup · 04-23-2003, 02:37 PM

Bye bye Toronto Summer Tourism.

******************************

Toronto mayor rails against WHO warning

TORONTO - A furious Mel Lastman said Wednesday he was "shocked" at a World Health Organization advisory against travel to Toronto.

"They've never issued an advisory like this before in their history," Toronto's mayor sputtered at a press conference, adding, "I've never been so angry in my life."
'If it's safe to live in Toronto, it's safe to come to Toronto'

? Lastman
"The facts of the matter do not warrant this decision at this time," added Sheela Basrur, Toronto's medical officer of health.

WHO warned people to avoid all unnecessary travel for the next three weeks to Toronto, Beijing and China's Shanxi province because of SARS. The three locations join Hong Kong and China's Guangdong province, already on WHO's list.

Basrur said linking Toronto and China is a "gross misrepresentation of the facts" because the disease is not spreading through the community here.

She characterized SARS in Toronto as a disease primarily affecting health-care workers and patients within a hospital setting.

What WHO said

WHO said in a press release:

"The outbreak in (Toronto) has continued to grow in magnitude and has affected groups outside the initial risk groups of hospital workers, their families and other close person-to-person contacts, although all the cases reported have identified links to known SARS cases.

"In addition, a small number of persons with SARS, now in other countries in the world, appear to have acquired the infection while in Toronto."

WHO said it would revisit the situation in three weeks.

"I want them here tomorrow," Lastman said, adding world health groups, including WHO, have said the situation is being managed exceptionally well in Toronto.

For the overwhelming majority of Toronto's 2.5 million people, the risk of contacting SARS in their day-to-day life is minimal, said Basrur.

"If it's safe to live in Toronto, it's safe to come to Toronto," Lastman declared.

Toronto is already noticing an economic impact from SARS. The WHO decision "is going to hurt," said Joe Halstead, the city's economic development commissioner, noting Toronto relies heavily on tourism.

It could get worse for Toronto before it gets better.

Hours after the WHO advisory, the British government issued one advising its citizens not to travel there.

04-23-2003, 02:37 PM
MrPopup Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: on the internet Posts: 3,783	Toronto mayor BLASTS WHO warning Bye bye Toronto Summer Tourism. ****************************** Toronto mayor rails against WHO warning TORONTO - A furious Mel Lastman said Wednesday he was "shocked" at a World Health Organization advisory against travel to Toronto. "They've never issued an advisory like this before in their history," Toronto's mayor sputtered at a press conference, adding, "I've never been so angry in my life." 'If it's safe to live in Toronto, it's safe to come to Toronto' ? Lastman "The facts of the matter do not warrant this decision at this time," added Sheela Basrur, Toronto's medical officer of health. WHO warned people to avoid all unnecessary travel for the next three weeks to Toronto, Beijing and China's Shanxi province because of SARS. The three locations join Hong Kong and China's Guangdong province, already on WHO's list. Basrur said linking Toronto and China is a "gross misrepresentation of the facts" because the disease is not spreading through the community here. She characterized SARS in Toronto as a disease primarily affecting health-care workers and patients within a hospital setting. What WHO said WHO said in a press release: "The outbreak in (Toronto) has continued to grow in magnitude and has affected groups outside the initial risk groups of hospital workers, their families and other close person-to-person contacts, although all the cases reported have identified links to known SARS cases. "In addition, a small number of persons with SARS, now in other countries in the world, appear to have acquired the infection while in Toronto." WHO said it would revisit the situation in three weeks. "I want them here tomorrow," Lastman said, adding world health groups, including WHO, have said the situation is being managed exceptionally well in Toronto. For the overwhelming majority of Toronto's 2.5 million people, the risk of contacting SARS in their day-to-day life is minimal, said Basrur. "If it's safe to live in Toronto, it's safe to come to Toronto," Lastman declared. Toronto is already noticing an economic impact from SARS. The WHO decision "is going to hurt," said Joe Halstead, the city's economic development commissioner, noting Toronto relies heavily on tourism. It could get worse for Toronto before it gets better. Hours after the WHO advisory, the British government issued one advising its citizens not to travel there. __________________ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" border="1" bgcolor="#008000"><tr><td><font size=3>Gone</font></td></tr></table>