The Government and the community are rallying to support severe acute respiratory syndrome victims and their families in the ongoing fight against SARS.

Director of Social Welfare Carrie Lam said the department had already paid out about $520,000 to more than 628 families needing help. She also announced two new funds had been set up by the business sector and the civil service to help SARS victims.

11 new cases, 44 discharged

As at 1pm today, 11 new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have atypical pneumonia. A total of 878 patients - almost 55% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 44 were sent home today.

The new confirmed cases include two healthcare workers, one from Prince of Wales Hospital and the other from Baptist Hospital. The other nine are other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

Most of the 563 patients currently in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 85, about 15%, are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 97 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

Eight patients died in the last day, bringing to 170 the number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia. Five of them suffered from other chronic illnesses.

A man, 78, died at  Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital; another man, also aged 78 died at Tai Po Hospital, as did a 79-year-old man and an 88-year-old woman. Two women, aged 75 and 93, died at Prince of Wales Hospital. A 76-year-old man died at Tseung Kwan O Hospital, and a man, 77, died at Kwong Wah Hospital.

"The number of new cases is declining and some people predict that the epidemic is under control, but I have to stress once again that the government will not be complacent, we will continue to be on high alert," Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan stressed.

There are 1,010 people from 394 families under home quarantine orders, she said. No new warning letters were issued in the last day, and she thanked those affected for their cooperation.

New funds to support SARS victims, families

Mrs Lam noted that the Social Welfare Department had introduced new measures to help families affected by SARS. Those under home quarantine were provided with food and other supplies, and department staff liaised with family members in hospital on their behalf.

About 60-70% of SARS-affected families have received help from the department. "People under quarantine are very reasonable," Mrs Lam said.

Her department has also visited the 741 homes for the elderly across Hong Kong, to ensure that they have stepped up hygiene measures. "We're satisfied with their preventive measures," she said.

"We will continue to work with the Department of Health to assist the homes for the elderly to reduce the number of people that are going to hospital," she said. "We want to reduce their chance of going to hospital - and reduce their chance of getting SARS."

She described two new funds that have been set up help SARS victims, including the children who have lost their parents to the disease. The business community and the Civil Service are behind these initiatives. Click here to learn more.

"If you want to help them, please contribute to the funds," she said

Hospital continues to use Ribavirin

In answer to a query, Hospital Authority Senior Executive Manager Dr Liu Shao-Haei said that, contrary to media reports, Princess Margaret Hospital was continuing to use the antiviral drug Ribavirin and steroids to treat SARS. "Doctors in charge consider the benefits and the risks, the patient's safety should be considered first," Dr Liu said."They are trying to explore other treatment modalities, including Chinese medicines."

Two Chinese medicine experts are expected to arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow, and will be stationed at Kwong Wah Hospital.

* Temperature testing at boundary crossing points is running smoothly, Dr Chan said. In the last day, only one person was stopped from departing. A man at Man Kam To was referred to hospital for further tests when he was found to be suffering from a fever.