As at 1pm today, 22 new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have atypical pneumonia. A total of 436 patients - more than 30% - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 27 were sent home today.

The new confirmed cases include six healthcare workers (two from Princess Margaret Hospital, two from Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, one from Queen Elizabeth Hospital and one from Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital). The remaining 16 were other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

Most of the 872 patients currently in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 105,  about 12%, are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Six patients died in the last day. All had a history of chronic illness.

They included: a woman, aged 58, and a man, aged 79, in Kwong Wah Hospital; two men in the Prince of Wales Hospital, aged 56 and 78; a 76-year-old woman at Princess Margaret Hospital; and a man, aged 48, at United Christian Hospital.

This brought to 94 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia.

One of the patients who passed away was from Amoy Gardens, Block E.

Case numbers appear to be stabilising

At this afternoon's daily press briefing, Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan said that the number of newly confirmed cases show a downward trend. "This is the result achieved through concerted efforts on all quarters," she said.

She stressed, though, that Hong Kong cannot afford to be complacent, especially concerning efforts to contain the spread of the disease. "We cannot afford to loosen up on our efforts."

Secondary school class resumption no need for alarm

In reply to a reporter's query, Dr Chan noted that although secondary school classes resume tomorrow, no one expects the number of new cases to rise. The Secretary for Education & Manpower has provided detailed arrangements.

"If everyone puts in effort, the risks students would be exposed to would be very small," she said, adding that no student has yet got the disease from school premises.

Broken test tube handled according to protocol

The Hospital Authority's Senior Executive Manager Dr Liu Shao-Haei said that a test tube containing a virus sample had been broken in the Prince of Wales Hospital lab lately. The lab assistant wore protective gear and the virus that was released was handled according to protocol, however. The lab has also been disinfected.

Temperature checks to be introduced at all boundary checkpoints

Dr Chan stressed that plans were underway to introduce temperature checks of all incoming and outgoing passengers at all boundary-control points, not just at the airport.

"To cater for such a high passenger load, we need a machine that can do the job and not impose an unreasonable time spent on crossing the border," she said, adding that the department is trying to source infrared scanners.

"Before we implement that, we may introduce a special arrangement where healthcare personnel are at the border and screen individuals who look unwell to start with. There's no lack of will, it's just a logistics issue," she said.

To date, more than 45,000 outgoing airline passengers have had a temperature check at the airport. None has been denied departure due to a high fever.

Home quarantine measures proving effective

There are currently 253 families - for a total of 665 people - subject to home confinement. Two more warning letters were issued in the last day to people found breaking the quarantine order. This brings to 29 the number of such letters issued.

While Tai Po district accounts for a relatively high number of new atypical pneumonia  cases, Dr Chan noted that some healthcare workers who have been infected live there. So far, there is nothing to suggest that environmental factors, such as those seen at Amoy Gardens, play a role in this.

The atypical pneumonia task force will visit Tai Po to work with the District Council and the owner's corporations to ensure all measures are taken to prevent its spread.

Premature babies under observation

Three babies delivered through Caesarean section to mothers with atypical pneumonia are being closely monitored in the intensive care unit for newborns.

"Their weight is light and they have shown some complications," Dr Liu said. "We can't yet confirm if the babies have come down with severe acute respiratory syndrome."