Global virus battle: Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said: "I want to tell you it's not just a battle for Hong Kong any more, the Central Government is very supportive, the whole world is involved right now."

Prevention of atypical pneumonia is the Government's top priority, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa told a media briefing this evening.

He then laid out three directions aimed at bringing the disease under control - including the introduction of body temperature checks of outgoing airline passengers starting from midnight.

Those three fronts are:

* stepping up prevention measures to halt the spread;

* strengthening inspections at boundary crossings; and

* improving treatment methods.

Mr Tung also announced that school classes would begin again in stages. Students in Secondary 3 and above would return to schools on April 22; those in lower grades would tentatively return on April 28.

The Government is leaving it up to kindergarten school heads to determine the date to resume classes.

"We will also take all measures to make sure school buses and premises are kept clean at all times," Mr Tung stressed. "We will heighten the awareness of parents, teachers, school staff so they will take preventive measures. They must have full awareness of the need for personal and environmental hygiene."

Temperature checks for outgoing plane passengers

Starting from midnight, passengers leaving Hong Kong by plane will be required to have a temperature check before they check in for their flights. If they are found to have a fever, they will be asked to see a doctor at the airport - at their own expense - who will determine whether they are suffering from symptoms of atypical pneumonia.

Initially, this temperature check will be done only for passengers leaving Hong Kong. But, Mr Tung said: "From next week, we will do it for passengers coming into Hong Kong, as well."

Later on, health checks at other boundary crossings will also be stepped up, he added.

Treatment regime still 90-95% effective

Commenting on the high number of deaths in the last few days, especially those of relatively young and healthy patients, Mr Tung stressed that the combined Ribavirin/steroid treatment still had a high success rate.

"The treatment results so far have been quite good," he said."In recent days, we saw the figures going up, you saw that and I saw that. Of course, we are concerned. We have to do some detailed analysis."

He also stressed the need for those who may be infected with the virus to seek help quickly.

"The earlier you come forward, the earlier you get treated, the chances are very high that you'll get well. Its important not just for himself or herself, but also for the rest of the community," he said.

He highlighted a case of an Amoy Gardens resident who fled ahead of the isolation order and moved into another housing estate - where he infected several other people.

"We don't want to accept even one death. It's very sad."

Hope in joined efforts

He noted that health officials and local universities are working hard to determine whether there are alternative treatments.

"In Hong Kong we have identified the virus as coronavirus. We've got the genetic sequencing ready. So maybe we can identify new medicine," he said.

"I want to tell you it's not just a battle for Hong Kong any more, the Central Government is very supportive, the whole world is involved right now."

Hong Kong and Mainland health experts are making good on their promise to work closely together, Mr Tung noted. The new working group had discussions last Thursday, and tomorrow a Hong Kong delegation would meet with Mainland counterparts in Guangzhou.

In reply to a query about how the Government can boost the economy and help businesses that are reeling from the outbreak's impact, Mr Tung said the Financial Secretary would make an announcement "soon".

"We do fully appreciate that the atypical pneumonia has dealt a severe blow to the economy. And we will be announcing measures. Antony Leung has been listening to views and he is preparing a package. We will ensure that this will not affect the monetary stability of Hong Kong," he said.

Mr Tung also said a report on the outbreak at Amoy Gardens would be released "very soon."

Follow-up question period

After Mr Tung's briefing, Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan and Hospital Authority Director Dr Ko Wing-man fielded press queries.

* Dr Chan stressed that the number of cases from the outbreaks at the Prince of Wales Hospital and Amoy Gardens were beginning to wane.

* She also stressed that cases at Koway Court should not be compared to the Amoy Gardens outbreak. "At Koway Court, the environmental hygiene is quite good. The owner's corporation is cooperating with us, and it has had cleansing," she said, adding that the health department had begun investigating as soon as it heard there was a second case in the estate.

* Dr Ko said the Hospital Authority is speaking with private hospitals, to try to secure beds for patients who are recovering from atypical pneumonia. Moving them from the acute hospitals into private ones would help relieve some pressure on the frontline staff.