How do you spell IDIOT

The spread of S.A.R.S. is growing daily. Here in Toronto, there is a larger number of cases than anywhere on earth excluding Hong Kong. On a per-capita basis, Toronto has had more cases, and more deaths than any other city, bar none. With over 200 confirmed cases, and 11 deaths, Toronto currently has a very dubious distinction. People in public places have taken to wearing surgical masks. I've seen masked citizens in grocery stores and movie theatres. I'm sure this trend is only starting. My own parents, calling from Phoenix, have suggested it might be prudent for me to begin wearing a mask myself.

But what really rankles me is the laissez-faire attitude of health care workers. They have done an excellent job of identifying the people at risk for S.A.R.S., and in all cases have imposed strict quarantine orders on them - but the quarantines are not supervised; they are voluntary. One quarantined person, restricted to his home for ten days, decided he missed being at work. Today, he went to the office. Now, I'm sure his boss was pretty amazed at his dedication, but sometimes, it's just better to follow doctor's orders. His disregard for quarantine regulations meant that the entire office staff (200 employees of Hewlett Packard) had become exposed to S.A.R.S. The health department has now ordered the entire office to shut down. All employees have been sent home and ordered not to leave their homes for ten days.

Instead of a mere 80 hours of lost productivity, HP will now be forced to swallow 16,000 man-hours of lost time. I guess there's one person who won't be receiving the Man of the Year Award any time soon!