Watch your step: If passengers stand within the big red footprints painted on the floor below the overhead thermal scanners, the temperature-taking process will take only seconds, Dr Chan said.

There was a single new case of SARS reported in the last day, marking the 23rd day in a row that the number of new cases remains in single digits.

A total of 1,276 patients - about 74% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, one was sent home today.

Most of the 109 patients currently in hospital under active care are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 37 are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 74 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

A 45-year-old man died of the disease at Prince of Wales Hospital. His death brings to 267 the number of SARS-related deaths.

There are 11 suspected cases, including one new one.

Caritas nurse confirmed to have SARS

The new confirmed case in a nurse at Caritas Medical Centre who was admitted on May 19 with suspected SARS symptoms. He is believed to have caught the disease from a fellow nurse who lived in the same staff quarters.

Twenty-one other healthcare workers from the same floor were put into quarantine n May 19th, and no patient will be discharged from the ward in which he worked until May 29. It has accepted no new patients since the nurse was himself admitted.

None of the patients nor other healthcare workers have shown any signs of the disease.

Individuals confined to homes are cooperative

Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan thanked the 1,225 individuals from 479 families who are under home-quarantine orders for their cooperation.

Dr Chan stressed that there are no new confirmed or suspected cases on school campuses or at housing estates.

"In infection control, we've made some headway," she told the daily press briefing. "Once again, I call on the community at large to not relax or drop our guard. We must work hard on the public health front to ensure that the whole thing could be over."

Passenger flow increases after WHO lifts advisory

Since the World Health Organisation lifted its Hong Kong and Guangdong travel advisories, the passenger flow has increased significantly, she said. At the Lo Wu checkpoint this weekend, there was a 10% rise in visitor flow.

Now that tourism and commercial activities have begun to pick up, Dr Chan called on all visitors to abide by the measures in place at boundary crossings.

In particular, she noted that if everyone stood properly within the big footprints painted on the floor beneath the overhead thermal scanners, it would save time and make the process flow more smoothly.

Babies and others who cannot stand unaided on the footprints will need to have their temperature checked with an ear or handheld thermometer.

"Please be patient," she said. "If there are many people, you may have to wait a bit longer. But this measure is not just good for the passengers, it's critical to whole quarantine programme. We don't want to export any SARS cases."

She added: "We hope the public will work with us on this - it takes only three to four seconds if you stand on the right spot."

Five fail initial boundary temperature checks

At the airport, three passengers did not pass the initial temperature checks. After secondary consultations, two were allowed to leave. The other passenger was referred to hospital and is under observation.

At the Lo Wu boundary checkpoint, a nine-year-old boy who failed the first temperature scan was sent to hospital and later discharged. At a ferry terminal, a two-year-old girl was also sent to hospital for observation but was then sent home.

More thermal scanners to be installed in days

There are more than 144 of the overhead thermal scanners installed to date, and another 50 arrived today and will be installed within days.

"In the coming few weeks, gradually there will be more people coming into and out of Hong Kong so we need to increase the equipment and the manpower," Dr Chan said.

"Authorities here are also talking to Mainland authorities to see how our work can complement theirs," she said.

"We will advise tour guides on what they should do, and we'll be looking into the measures for helping tourists coming to Hong Kong. We want to do the appropriate things, we don't want to give people the wrong impression."

Need for face masks comes under scrutiny

There are divergent view on wearing masks, she said. Some people want the Government to issue guidelines, others believe individuals should decide for themselves.

Officials will speak to parents, school heads, the catering sector and others to see whether there is a need for the Government to advise the general public.