There is more good news on the SARS front: For the second day running, there were fewer than 10 new severe acute respiratory syndrome cases. And there have been no new cases reported at Amoy Gardens and other estates that had large numbers of cases for two weeks.  

As at 1pm today, 8 new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have SARS syndrome. A total of 930 patients - more than 57% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 13 were sent home today.

The new confirmed SARS cases include two healthcare workers from Prince of Wales Hospital. The other six are other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

Most of the 520 patients currently in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 77, about 15%, are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 91 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

Three men, all with a history of chronic illness, died in the last day. They were a 66-year-old Amoy Garden resident at United Christian Hospital, an 86-year-old at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and an 83-year-old at Prince of Wales Hospital. This brings to 187 the number of SARS-related deaths.

Appeal to community to maintain hygiene measures

The Director of Health is pleased to see the number of new cases has fallen to single digits in the last two days. However,  Dr Margaret Chan appealed to the community to maintain its vigilance. 

"We have to continue with our very robust public health measures, personal hygiene, environmental hygiene.This is perhaps the most critical period and if we relax on these measures, all the hard work we put in place in the previous two months might go to waste," she said at the daily press briefing.

"I would like to reiterate: We still see people spitting in public, and that is a dangerous thing to do, in particular, if you are suffering from SARS. For your own sake, and the community's, take care of personal hygiene."

Student among new cases, no need to close school

An 11-year-old student subject to home confinement has contracted SARS, Dr Chan said. Both his parents are confirmed to have the disease, so he presumably caught it through family contacts. His school will not be suspended as he contracted SARS while he was at home and classes were suspended. "There's no question of the school having to be closed," she said.

Two more warning letters for breaching home confinement

There are 1,055 people from 412 households subject to home confinement. Two warning letters were issued yesterday to people who breached the order.

"I urge those who are subject to home confinement to cooperate with us and isolate themselves at home for 10 days for the sake of themselves, and for the sake of the community. I hope this will discharge this civil responsibility," Dr Chan said.

There have been no new cases at Amoy Garden, Lower Ngau Tau Kok, Koway Court nor Tung Tau Estate for two weeks, she said. "Amoy Garden is a significant factor and we would reflect these developments to the WHO."

Ship's crew given all-clear; shipping firm to pay costs

Crew members of a Malaysian freighter that made an emergency stop off Lamma Island have been deemed to be in good health. The ship's captain had asked permission to visit Hong Kong en route to a Mainland port after 10 of its crew developed SARS-like symptoms.

"My colleagues examined all the crewmen and they are found to be in good health," Dr Chan said. "All their temperatures were taken and were within the normal range. It will leave Hong Kong by 5pm and we will be recovering all the costs incurred from the shipping company."

Hong Kong uses WHO's SARS definition

In response to reporters' queries, Hospital Authority Senior Executive Manager Dr Liu Shao-Haei stressed that the recently developed Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test - which reveals the presence of the coronavirus in the blood - has not been used as a criteria for making a SARS diagnosis.

"When the WHO came out with defiinition of probable and suspect case, PCR testing for coronavirus was not available," DrLiu noted. Instead, clinicians considered the symptoms that WHO had defined: a fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius, a change in chest X-rays, and a dry cough, and general malaise.

Hong Kong follows closely the rules of the game, Dr Chan added. "The Government has, right from the outset, said we would like to be open and transparent with our data and statistics. That is precisely why we're here everyday in a meeting with you and answer any queries you may have."