Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2003

Chinatown no threat to anyone's health

It was kind of a publicity stunt, but worthwhile nonetheless.

Gov. Linda Lingle and a group of her friends and government associates took time out this week for a lunch in Chinatown.

Nothing exceptional about that, except that Lingle was making an important point: Merchants, restaurants and other businesses in Chinatown are suffering economically because customers — afraid of the respiratory disease SARS — have been staying away in droves.

It is logical to be concerned about SARS, which is spreading rapidly in parts of Asia, Eastern Canada and a few other locations.

But it is not logical to think one can avoid catching the disease by refusing to shop or eat in Chinatown. Scientists are still working on understanding SARS, but it is clear that it is contracted by close contact with an infected individual.

Thus far, Hawai'i has not had one documented case of SARS, in Chinatown or elsewhere. So follow Lingle's example: If you have business in Chinatown, get on with it.