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The number of healthcare workers infected with atypical pneumonia appears to have stabilised, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong says.
As at 3pm today, there were 173 people suspected of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong.
Of them, 165 are confirmed to have signs of pneumonia, and the remainder are under observation. Among those infected, six have died and five have recovered and been discharged.
In a press conference this afternoon, Dr Yeoh said the main increases in those infected today have been patients and their relatives.
He said although there are still some healthcare workers that have come down with the infection, their general numbers are decreasing.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has traced 240 family members that were in contact with infected healthcare workers, and two children and two teenagers have signs of infection.
The Consultant-in-charge of the department's Disease Prevention & Control Division Dr Tse Lai-yin said the four were 15-year-old twin sisters, a five-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy.
The twins have been on sick leave from their schools, namely Tak Oi Secondary School and CCC Heep Woh College in Wong Tai Sin, since March 13.
They were admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital on March 14 and they are now in serious condition.
Department staff visited their schools on March 14, and said their general environmental conditions are good and that students and staff have not reported unusual patterns of sickness.
Meanwhile, the five and the seven-year-olds were admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on March 16 and 18 respectively. They are in stable condition.
The department has contacted their schools, the Diana Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten and SKH Holy Spirit Primary School in Sha Tin.
Dr Tse said there is no sign atypical pneumonia is spreading in schools.
The department and the Education & Manpower Bureau will jointly hold two briefing sessions tomorrow for all school principals to remind them of precautionary measures against infection, followed by health talks for all teachers on March 25, 27 and 28.
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