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Canadians Respond to SARS Fear

Aired April 25, 2003 - 14:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Moving on now to SARS. The first SARS cases are reported in the Philippines. Two people have died there. China has 180 more cases of the respiratory disease, five more deaths to report. 4,000 Chinese are now confirmed -- excuse me, are confined to their homes, I should say, because they may have been exposed.
Worldwide, there are 4,439 cases of SARS. 263 have died.

In Toronto, where 16 deaths are blamed on SARS, officials are complaining about a World Health Organization advisory against travel to that city. The Canadians have support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the WHO, World Health Organization, is not backing off its advisory.

CNN's Jason Carroll is in Toronto.

Jason, did you travel there with any misgivings?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: None at all. I came here with an open mind, and was met with a great deal of anger from a lot of Canadians who are really upset with the World Health Organization and that organization's decision to issue a travel advisory for Toronto.

Again, a number of people have said -- health officials here say that the WHO's decision was based on outdated information. Many here are obviously worried about the economic impact on the city. Several major conventions have been cancelled. Hotel occupancy is down in downtown Toronto.

Earlier today, the Canadian prime minister came out and he said what he'll do to try to restore confidence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN CHRETIEN, CANADIAN PRIME MIN.: To demonstrate in a very public way our commitment to the people of Toronto, I am announcing today that the cabinet will meet on Tuesday in Toronto instead of Ottawa.

And I will be saying at a Toronto hotel on Monday night, and I will sleep very, very, very well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So, as you can see, the prime minister's comments met with a great deal of applause.

We've been talking to a number of people here, Miles, out here on the street, about how they feel about what's been going on. We're joined now by some tourists who are from Michigan.

You came here, obviously, without any reservations at all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.

CARROLL: What do you thin of how the whole story has developed? We were talking a little bit a littler earlier -- you feel as though some of this has been somewhat blown out of proportion. Tell me which parts and why.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's totally been blown out of proportion. I feel totally safe here. I have no concerns. We did check before we came and we did talk to, like, the health organization, and they assured us that everything was fine. And since we've been here, it's just wonderful. I have no complaints whatsoever.

CARROLL: Everything all right.

All right, Gail (ph), you obviously came with your family and your friends here, Louis (ph). Once again, obviously, a lot of people here in Canada upset with the World Health Organization's decision. I know you've heard about it. What are some of your thoughts?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was surprised to see no people walking around with masks, and there's really nothing to be concerned about. We've just been having a great time, and not really even thinking about it. I mean, we watch the news and it's totally way over the top.

CARROLL: All right. A couple of opinions there. Well, welcome to Toronto. Hope you have a good time while you are here. Thanks again.

Again, tourism a major concern here. The big season for tourism, obviously, will be this summer, and the city, what they're going to do to try to restore confidence is they're going to embark upon a $25 million ad campaign to try to bring back the tourists -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Jason, while you've been talking I haven't seen a single surgical mask. Have you seen many of them as you've walked the streets?

CARROLL: Well, take a look behind me. Yu can look out here on the street. Since we've been standing out here -- One of the busies intersections in downtown Toronto. Have not seen one mask on one person. Since I've been here, I've only seen one person, actually, wearing a mask, and that was at the airport -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Jason Carroll in Toronto, thanks very much -- appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired April 25, 2003 - 14:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Moving on now to SARS. The first SARS cases are reported in the Philippines. Two people have died there. China has 180 more cases of the respiratory disease, five more deaths to report. 4,000 Chinese are now confirmed -- excuse me, are confined to their homes, I should say, because they may have been exposed.
Worldwide, there are 4,439 cases of SARS. 263 have died.

In Toronto, where 16 deaths are blamed on SARS, officials are complaining about a World Health Organization advisory against travel to that city. The Canadians have support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the WHO, World Health Organization, is not backing off its advisory.

CNN's Jason Carroll is in Toronto.

Jason, did you travel there with any misgivings?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: None at all. I came here with an open mind, and was met with a great deal of anger from a lot of Canadians who are really upset with the World Health Organization and that organization's decision to issue a travel advisory for Toronto.

Again, a number of people have said -- health officials here say that the WHO's decision was based on outdated information. Many here are obviously worried about the economic impact on the city. Several major conventions have been cancelled. Hotel occupancy is down in downtown Toronto.

Earlier today, the Canadian prime minister came out and he said what he'll do to try to restore confidence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN CHRETIEN, CANADIAN PRIME MIN.: To demonstrate in a very public way our commitment to the people of Toronto, I am announcing today that the cabinet will meet on Tuesday in Toronto instead of Ottawa.

And I will be saying at a Toronto hotel on Monday night, and I will sleep very, very, very well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So, as you can see, the prime minister's comments met with a great deal of applause.

We've been talking to a number of people here, Miles, out here on the street, about how they feel about what's been going on. We're joined now by some tourists who are from Michigan.

You came here, obviously, without any reservations at all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.

CARROLL: What do you thin of how the whole story has developed? We were talking a little bit a littler earlier -- you feel as though some of this has been somewhat blown out of proportion. Tell me which parts and why.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's totally been blown out of proportion. I feel totally safe here. I have no concerns. We did check before we came and we did talk to, like, the health organization, and they assured us that everything was fine. And since we've been here, it's just wonderful. I have no complaints whatsoever.

CARROLL: Everything all right.

All right, Gail (ph), you obviously came with your family and your friends here, Louis (ph). Once again, obviously, a lot of people here in Canada upset with the World Health Organization's decision. I know you've heard about it. What are some of your thoughts?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was surprised to see no people walking around with masks, and there's really nothing to be concerned about. We've just been having a great time, and not really even thinking about it. I mean, we watch the news and it's totally way over the top.

CARROLL: All right. A couple of opinions there. Well, welcome to Toronto. Hope you have a good time while you are here. Thanks again.

Again, tourism a major concern here. The big season for tourism, obviously, will be this summer, and the city, what they're going to do to try to restore confidence is they're going to embark upon a $25 million ad campaign to try to bring back the tourists -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Jason, while you've been talking I haven't seen a single surgical mask. Have you seen many of them as you've walked the streets?

CARROLL: Well, take a look behind me. Yu can look out here on the street. Since we've been standing out here -- One of the busies intersections in downtown Toronto. Have not seen one mask on one person. Since I've been here, I've only seen one person, actually, wearing a mask, and that was at the airport -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Jason Carroll in Toronto, thanks very much -- appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com