cce blog

more on SARS

Atypical pneumonia-related tidbits:

• Did you hear the one about the piano teacher whose students wore their masks while sitting at the piano because their parents wouldn't let them take it off?
  
• There are these special hazardous waste bins in the train stations and at school that are for throwing out used masks. They have scary biohazard symbols on them.
  
• 3M's are the best masks (and hard to find now). They're just called "3M's" now, everyone knows what you're talking about, in English or Cantonese.
  
• Have you ever watched a businessman try to hold a tiny mobile phone up to his face while keeping his mask on? You have to slip the phone between the mask and your mouth with the other hand. It's funny.
  
• I saw my first "fashion accessory" masks today -- a happy 30something couple in identical Burberry jackets and cute cartoon dogs and pigs on their masks.
  

News from this morning's SCMP (mainly for my worried family):

• 1,000 people placed under quarantine.
  
• All schools shut down until April 6.
  
• Beijing authorities say only 8 cases reported there, rumours and other estimates put it at 100. Rumours of an outbreak in Shanghai denied so far.
  
• Bug identified as coronavirus family, can be transmitted by coughing, sneezing, or touching contaminated objects and then rubbing one's eyes, mouth.
• Treatment has been 80% effective since first cases, doctors say success rate for early detection is 90%.
  
• I washed my hands when I got home from the train today, Mom...
  

So, that's it. I'm a bit more worried than before, but it's not too infectious, I should be fine, and check this FAQ from CNN for more info. OK!

Posted by cce at March 28, 2003 04:03 PM | TrackBack