As at 1pm today, 8 new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have SARS. A total of 984 patients - nearly 60% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 26 were sent home today.

There were no healthcare workers among the new confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome cases.

Most of the 466 patients currently in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 66, about 14%, are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 89 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

Eleven deaths were reported, including a 43-year-old man from Amoy Garden. He died at United Christian Hospital, as did two women, aged 48 and 70, and an 80-year-old man. All of those who died, except for the 48-year-old woman, had underlying medical conditions.

A man,  86, died at Tai Po Hospital. Two men, aged 42 and 65, died at Tuen Mun Hospital. A 59-year-old man died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. A man, 66, and a woman, 82, died at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital. A 66-year-old man died at Princess Margaret Hospital.

This brings to 204 the number of SARS-related deaths.

There are 25 suspected cases.

WHO report says HK's efforts in fighting SARS are 'heroic'

During the daily press briefing, Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan highlighted the World Health Organisation's latest SARS press release, which labelled Hong Kong's efforts in fighting the disease "heroic". 

The release quotes WHO's Dr David Heymann, its Executive Director for Communicable Diseases, as telling Dr Chan and Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong: "All of us have nothing but admiration for you and your team." 

The report also noted that, in some cases, Hong Kong's measures to prevent SARS' spread "exceed those recommended by WHO".

Preventive measures are paying off

Dr Chan said there are 1,066 individuals from 418 households under home-confinement orders. There was no need to issue warning letters to any of them in the last day, she said, and thanked everyone involved for their cooperation.

At the boundary points, including the airport, ferry and land checkpoints, temperature taking measures are working smoothly, and no one was found to have failed the check.

All is going smoothly in schools, too, where there are no new suspected or confirmed cases, Dr Chan said.

There have been no new cases from Amoy Gardens, Lower Ngau Tau Kok, Koway Court, nor Tung Tau Estate, she addd.

No new 'Amoy Garden' type outbreak expected

In response to reporters' queries, Dr Chan noted that at both Koway Court and Tung Tau Estate, residential blocks that had experienced SARS outbreaks, investigations suggest there are no environmental factors at play.

"We don't expect an outbreak like Amoy Garden," she said, noting the sewage system, building structure and hygiene conditions were all closely examined.

While Koway Court does have U-shaped water traps similar to those at Amoy Garden, residents have been instructed to ensure that they are always filled with water. At Tung Tau Estate, each time a resident has a shower or bath, the water automatically flows into the U-trap, so it does not present a problem, she said.

"All the residents have taken appropriate environmental measures, and have done a thorough job in terms of preventive measures,"she added.

She reminded all Hong Kong residents to maintain vigilance, even though the case numbers are falling. "It's important that we don't become complacent," she said. "It's even more important that we keep up our efforts."