There were four new cases of SARS reported in the last day, marking the 30th day in a row that the number of new cases remains in single digits. The disease also claimed another healthcare worker overnight - Dr Cheng Ha-yan of Tai Po Hospital. (Full Story)

"We are truly saddened today to release the news that Dr Cheng Ha-yan has left us," Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan told the daily briefing. Dr Cheng was a graduate of the University of Hong Kong and started working at Tai Po Hospital in 1998.

"We want to salute her high spirits and selflessness, and we want to express our condolences to her family members," the Hospital Authority's Senior Executive Manager, Dr Liu Shao-Haei, added.

Dr Chan also said she was concerned that Hong Kong had lost three medical workers to SARS in as many days.

"The people in Hong Kong and especially the local Government feel that these people have made great contributions to Hong Kong, no matter whether they're working in the public or private sector," she said.

New cases come from suspected case list

All of the new cases had been on the suspected case list. One of them is a nurse from Northern District Hospital who became infected while treating patients. Two others had contact with family members who had SARS. The fourth patient is chronically ill and has been in hospital for some time.

A total of 1,319 patients - more than 75% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, one was sent home today.

Most of the 86 patients currently in hospital under active care are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 25 are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 59 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

There are five suspected cases, and  1,243 individuals in 488 families are under home-confinement orders.

At boundary checkpoints, five travellers failed the first temperature check. All were cleared in a secondary check and allowed to continue their journey.

Criticism levelled at Baptist Hospital 

The Department of Health has completed a review of a SARS outbreak at Baptist Hospital - and the hospital's failure to follow guidelines instructing them to report infectious diseases to the department.

"The hospital did not follow our guidelines," Dr Chan noted. "It did not report the cases, and it did not respect the right to know of patients and family members. It did not disclose the facts to family members."

It is of critical importance that the department learn of new cases immediately, Dr Chan said. Baptist Hospital has been urged to ensure that this will not happen in future. The department, meanwhile, will continue monitoring the hospital "to see if they've followed entirely our requirements".

Dr Chan noted: "When they apply for a licence renewal each year, we will take all of this into account."

Wing Shui House surveillance ends

The surveillance period for Wing Shui House ends today, Dr Chan said, and up to now there had been no new household cases.

The department's lobby medical post will remain in place for another four days, to reassure the residents and provide temperature screening for those who want it.

One household member on the suspect list has not been confirmed to have the disease. The department is awaiting test results. "There are some elderly people at the development, so we'd like to stay there for a few more days to provide temperature taking - just an additional precautionary measure."