As at 1pm, one new patient was confirmed to have SARS, marking the 18th straight day the number of new cases has remained in single digits.

A total of 1,237 patients have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, eight were sent home today.

Most of the 165 patients in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 42 are in intensive care.

Another 62 patients are recovering in convalescence in preparation for discharge.

Two Wong Tai Sin Hospital patients, a man and a woman aged 84 and 88, have died. Both had a history of chronic illness.

This brings to 255 the number of SARS-related deaths.

There are 13 suspected cases.

There are 470 households, made up of 1,192 people, under the home confinement programme.

Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan said the new case was being thoroughly investigated as the victim spent time in a hotel during the virus incubation period.

Although details are still to be confirmed with the patient, initial information says he went to North District Hospital on May 4 with a fever and diarrhoea, and was diagnosed with food poisoning.

He was discharged on the 6th after the fever subsided and he felt well again. He checked into a Hung Hum hotel, but developed another fever on the 9th and saw a doctor and went home. He then returned to hospital on the 13th and was confirmed to have SARS on the 17th.

Dr Chan said it is unlikely the source was the hotel, due to the virus' incubation period, and said investigations are now looking into whether he picked up SARS in hospital.

His family has been put into home confinement, and the hotel is being cleansed and disinfected. No hotel staff or guests still in Hong Kong have shown any symptoms. A small number of foreign guests who have left Hong Kong are being traced through their consulates.

Dr Chan said although there was only one new case today, Hong Kong must still work hard to continue the declining trend in new infections.

"I appeal to the public not to let down your guard, we must persist in our efforts to combat SARS," she said, calling for people to maintain personal and environmental hygiene.