As at 3pm today, five new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have SARS, marking the 12th straight day that the number of new cases has remained in single digits.

A total of 1,160 patients - more than 68% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 32 were sent home today.

One of the new cases is a Queen Mary Hospital healthcare worker.

Most of the 309 patients currently in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 54, some 17%, are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 67 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

Seven patients, including three men and four women aged 36 to 89, died. They all had a history of chronic disease.

Two were from Tuen Mun Hospital, two from Prince of Wales Hospital, while the others were from Tai Po Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre and United Christian Hospital.

This brings to 234 the number of SARS-related deaths.

There are 15 suspected cases.

Some 450 households, consisting of 1,152 people, are under home confinement.

One of the fatalities was a 36-year-old United Christian Hospital healthcare assistant who worked in the general ward.

Hospital Authority Senior Executive Manager Dr Beatrice Cheng said the woman is believed to have been infected by a patient in the general ward who initially did not show any SARS symptoms.

Dr Cheng said the authority has stepped up measures to minimise the risk of more healthcare workers becoming infected.

"We will enhance vigilance and training for staff, and we are working very hard to ensure protective gear is adequate for staff," she said.

Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong were saddened by the assistant's death.

Dr Yeoh said: "I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation for her commitment and dedication in taking care of patients."

Authority Chairman Dr Leong Che-hung and Chief Executive Dr William Ho also expressed their deepest regrets over the assistant's death and sent their condolences to her family, offering them any assistance they may need.