As at 1pm, three more patients were confirmed to have SARS in public hospitals. One is a Princess Margaret Hospital health services assistant. This marks the 15th straight day the number of new cases has remained in single digits.

A total of 1,203 patients have recovered from SARS and been discharged from hospitals. Of them, 12 were discharged today. There are now 195 active cases under treatment in hospitals, of which 46 patients are in intensive care.

Most patients are responding positively to the treatment protocol. Sixty-eight are recovering patients in convalescence preparing for discharge.

Four patients died in United Christian, Tuen Mun, Queen Elizabeth and Kwong Wah Hospitals. This brought to 247 the total number of SARS deaths.

The deceased were three men and one women aged 41 to 79. Three had a history of chronic disease.

There are now 467 homes, representing 1,185 people, under the home confinement programme. Twenty-five of these people have been confirmed to have SARS.

Hospital Authority Senior Executive Manager Dr Liu Shao-Haei said more precuations will be taken in the ward in which the healthcare member worked, such as improving ventilation.

He said the authority will also look at different models of facemasks which can be used to make up for the shortfall in small N95 masks.

Deputy Director of Health Dr Leung Pak-yin said infection in the community is "by and large, under control" and that the World Health Organisation is generally happy with the way Hong Kong has dealt with the outbreak.

"The situation is now stabilised and under control. We now have to look at prevention. We should have a long-term plan," he said.