A new anti-pandemic strategy will be introduced June 29 as the H1N1 Influenza-A virus has become the predominant flu in Hong Kong.

Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang said today human swine flu patients with mild symptoms will not require hospitalisation from June 29.

People with serious flu symptoms seeking medication at private hospitals will be given free clinical tests. Those confirmed as having human swine flu will be referred to public hospitals.

Surveillance at all immigration ports will continue but people with mild symptoms will be given face masks and flu clinic information instead of being sent straight to hospital.

Tracing for close contacts will stop but health authorities will investigate group infections and serious cases.

The focus of public education will switch to household care and to providing guidelines for people at high risk.

"According to laboratory test results over 70% of the total flu cases were human swine flu lately. There was one swine flu patient in every eight patients seeking medical treatment at the flu clinics," Dr Tsang said. "Fortunately all the patients so far only had mild symptoms. As summer is a peak season for flu we hope to save resources for serious cases and people at high risk."

Hospital Authority Director (Quality & Safety) Dr PY Leung said swine flu patients will be discharged from hospitals based on clinical decision and may not have to stay for seven days.

"This will help lower the inconvenience caused to other patients with real hospital needs," Dr Leung said.

At flu clinics pregnant women and children under two years old will take tests and once confirmed, they will be admitted to hospital.

"Others with minor symptoms will be given medication then go home," he said.

There were 33 new swine flu cases in Hong Kong as at 2.30pm, bringing the total tally to 629. The new cases involved 22 males and 11 females, aged two to 52.

Carmel Secondary School in Ho Man Tin will start summer holiday from tomorrow as one of its Form One students was tested positive for the virus.