As at 1pm today, nine new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have severe acute respiratory syndrome. This marks the 11th straight day that the number of new SARS patients has remained in single digits.

A total of 1,128 patients - more than 66% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 38 were sent home today.

One of the new cases is a healthcare worker from Caritas Medical Centre.

Most of the 343 patients currently in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 55, about 16%, are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 68 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

Two patients died in the last day, both men. One of them, a 40-year-old who died at United Christian Hospital, was a resident of Amoy Garden, Block E. A 72-year-old with chronic illness died at Prince of Wales Hospital.

This brings to 227 the number of SARS-related deaths.

There are two new suspected cases, bringing the total of active suspected cases to eight.

The Hospital Authority's Senior Executive Manager Dr Liu Shao-haei noted that three of today's new confirmed cases are relatives. Two of them live at Wing Shui House in Lek Yuen Estate and were under home quarantine after a family member contracted SARS. The other person, a relative, had visited them at the estate.

Four households from Wing Shui House have been affected by SARS.

Responding to reporters' queries at the daily press briefing, Dr Liu said the new case number "fluctuates everyday, sometimes higher, sometimes lower". But, he added, they are not focusing on the World Health Organisation's criteria for lifting its travel advisory. Instead, "we focus on how are we going to control it".

The important factor is whether new cases are traceable, Dr Liu said. "Most cases we can account for are in relation to home clusters, family clusters, and cross-infection among patients."

There are fewer and fewer cases of spread in the community, he said, noting that is "a good sign".

Dr Liu also told reporters that the WHO would likely have a press conference to release its report on environmental factors that may have contributed to SARS spread in Hong Kong later this week.