The coming week will be a turning point in the recent pneumonia cases, Department of Health Consultant Dr Tse Lai-yin says. 

Speaking on Metro Finance Radio this morning, Dr Tse explained that the latent period  for the disease is from two to seven days. Since the first atypical pneumonia case was discovered on March 10, if no more cases are found in the coming week, "then we could say it is under control".

The Prince of Wales Hospital is using a particular medicine to treat those who had developed atypical pneumonia. While it showed initial success, more time is needed to see whether it works.

Dr Tse emphasised that the recent pneumonia infection had not spread into the community and that it was confined to a few hospitals. Members of the public need not panic, she stressed.  

Department of Health has instructed schools, seniors' institutions and public transportation providers to maintain good ventilation to prevent the spread of virus. 

Meanwhile, the Director of the Hospital Authority Ko Wing-man confirmed that more healthcare staff suspected of contracting atypical pneumonia were admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Eastern Hospital and Kwong Wah Hospital.

Dr Ko said services at the Prince of Wales Hospital have been affected and that patients may be transferred to other hospitals for treatment.