As at 1pm today, 17 new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have atypical pneumonia. A total of  791 patients - almost 50% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 32 were sent home today.

The new confirmed cases include four healthcare workers (one from Tuen Mun Hospital, one from Princess Margaret Hospital, one from Caritas Medical Centre and one from Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole). The remaining 13 are other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

Most of the 641 patients currently in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 85, about 13%, are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 108 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge

Seven patients - all of whom had a history of chronic disease - died in the last day.

Two people died at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, an 85-year-old man and an 89-year-old woman. An 86-year-old woman died at Caritas Medical Centre, a woman, aged 44,  died at Kwong Wah Hospital, a 67-year-old woman died at Princess Margaret Hospital, a 68-year-old woman died at Tuen Mun Hospital, and a 78-year-old man died at Tai Po Hospital.

This brought to 157  the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia.

Secondary school student confirmed to have SARS

A Form 5 student is among the new cases confirmed today, Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan said at the daily press briefing. There was no need to close the student's school as the student's father had previously been confirmed as having atypical pneumonia.

As a close contact of a patient, the student had stayed away from school since March 25 to study for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.

"The student has not come into contact with fellow students," Dr Chan stressed.

She said there had been no new SARS cases from Amoy Garden, Lower Ngau Tau Kok, Koway Court or Tung Tau Estate in the last 10-14 days. "We hope that they will say goodbye to atypical pneumonia."

She believes the residents, property managers and Government departments that help with the clean-up and disinfection are doing good work - and encourages them to keep it up.

"With any communicable diseases, the central message is we must maintain our vigilance - it is complacency that is our biggest fear. I would encourage people in various parts of Hong Kong, especially where there were clusters of cases, to keep up the good personal and environmental hygiene."

Two children sent to hospital with fevers

In the last day, temperature scans at boundary checkpoints discovered two children with fevers. A 6-year-old girl at Lo Wu and a 2-year-old boy at Lok Ma Chau have been sent to hospital for follow up.

12 recovered patients relapse

Hospital Authority Senior Executive Manager Dr Liu Shao-Haei said that of the 791 patients that had been discharged to date, 12 had had some recurrence and had to be readmitted for further investigations. Six have already been re-discharged; the other six are in stable condition in hospital.

In reply to reporters' questions, Dr Liu noted that patients admitted to SARS convalescence wards have been fever-free for at least 48 hours, and their blood tests and chest X-rays show signs of improvement. They spend a minimum of five days in hospital before discharge. They then spend two weeks in home confinement.  

Leakage closes United Christian Hospital department

Dr Liu said that United Christian Hospital had reported some leakage at a diagnostic unit on Friday, April 25. It was promptly reported to the engineering department. To be safe, the hospital is liaising with all patients who were near the area from April 25-28 to come in for a health check.

The department has been closed until May 5, he added.

Home confinement runs smoothly

Dr Chan reported that 968 people from 380 households are subject to home-confinement orders. In the last day, two more people have received warning letters for breaching their orders.

She urged all people under these orders to cooperate, to protect their families and the community. They should also pay close attention to their personal and environmental hygiene.

Chinese medicine practitioners contacted

Some "renowned herbalists" from the Mainland have been in touch with the Department of Health, Dr Chan said. Although she did not know when they would arrive, they would likely be resident at Kwong Wah Hospital.

"They will share with us their experience and knowledge in fighting SARS," she said.

* Hospital Authority Chief Executive Dr William Ho Shiu-wei has recovered from SARS and returned to work this morning. he will continue to lead all public hospitals in the fight against the disease. He expressed his deepest appreciation to all staff who have been fighting it in the past two months. He also thanked the authority's chairman, members and senior executives who shouldered much additional work during his illness. He pledges his full devotion to tackling the challenges that lie ahead.