Hong Kong will stand down the SARS alert level on April 6. The requirement for doctors to report community-acquired pneumonia patients with a history of travel to Guangdong will also be waived.

The moves come after careful assessment of the SARS threat in Hong Kong and its neighbouring areas.

The Hospital Authority has recommended a stand down to the Yellow Alert.

The Guangdong health authority stepped down its contingency measures on March 19 as there was no confirmed SARS case in the province since February.

Remaining vigilant

Despite the stand down, Hong Kong will remain prepared and stay vigilant for any possible reoccurrence of the disease.

Health screening measures at all immigration control points, including health declaration and bodily temperature checks for travellers will remain unchanged.

Hong Kong will continue to maintain close and proactive liaison with Mainland and Macau authorities and the World Health Organisation to detect, prevent and control communicable diseases.

Hospitals to adopt flexible visiting arrangements

The Hospital Authority has reviewed visiting arrangements and a more flexible visiting arrangement will be adopted, taking into consideration the needs of patients' relatives and friends.

In all wards, there will be no more than two bedside visitors for each patient at any one time. For acute wards, visiting hours will be no more than four hours per day, and no more than six hours per day for patients in convalescent and infirmary wards.

The no-visiting policy will continue to be implemented in isolation wards. For paediatric wards, a more flexible arrangement will be made.

Visitors under 12 are generally not permitted in patient care areas. Pregnant women are strongly discouraged from visiting the hospitals.

Visitors should wear masks in ward areas. In other areas, they are encouraged to wear masks when necessary and discard them properly after use.

In accident and emergency wards, temperature checks will continue for all patients, while segregation will only be required for patients with suspicion of serious infectious diseases.