There was a single new case of SARS reported in the last day, marking the 31st day in a row that the number of new cases remains in single digits. A total of 1,326 patients - nearly 76% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, seven were sent home today.

The new case reported today is that of an 83-year-old woman who actually died at Northern District Hospital on May 28. Yesterday, serology tests confirmed that she had been infected with SARS, even though she did not display any SARS symptoms.

Her death brings to 283 the number of SARS-related deaths.

Most of the 79 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 7 suspected cases, including three new ones.

There are 1,243 people from 488 families under home-confinement orders. Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan thanked them for their cooperation as no warning letters had been issued.

At the boundary checkpoints, three travellers failed the initial temperature screening. Two were cleared after a second test while one was referred to hospital for observation.

Blood tests show 9 "SARS" patients didn't have coronavirus

The Hospital Authority's Senior Executive Manager Liu Shao-Haei noted that they are following up all those discharged patients with blood tests to see whether they have antibodies for the coronavirus.

A 56-year-old woman had been admitted to hospital on April 20 with a fever and was put under observation. By May 2nd, her fever was gone, her lung X-rays were clear and she was discharged. Blood tests have just confirmed that she did have coronavirus.

"Nine patients were clinically diagnosed as SARS cases, but serum tests came back negative, so they are not SARS patients," Dr Liu said. "For cases of this nature, we will adjust the figures after the whole thing is behind us."

Authorities hope to do saliva tests on children

Dr Chan noted that these blood tests are targetting different groups of people, in order of priority due to their limited resources. The plan is to first test the 1,700-plus patients who were diagnosed as having SARS.

She said that experts believe there are people who have had "sub-clinical" infections. In other words, they get the virus, but do not display any of its symptoms.

To date, no child has died of the disease.

"We are working with other health authorities to introduce special type of tests to do tests on children," she said. "We don't want to bleed our children too often, so we want to introduce a saliva test to see whether or not there is such a thing as subclinical cases."

Some former patients have resisted giving blood for tests. However, Dr Chan said they would continue to contact them. "The body of information collected from these tests will be useful in terms of protecting the people of Hong Kong and the wider global community."

Help at hand for recovering SARS patients, their families

Dr Chan also pointed out that patients who have recovered are from SARS still face many difficulties, and still need assistance from the Government and volunteer organisations.

"This has been terribly traumatic for them - mentally, psychologically and physically," she said.

To ensure they get the help they need, whether its financial assistance or counselling, Director of Social Welfare Carrie Lam will be writing to these people, extending a helping hand and trying to ascertain whether they need help.

"Carrie Lam's department has been very proactive in this regard," Dr Chan said.

The Department of Health is also working with the universities and other Government departments to see what services can be provided.

Thanks extended to Wing Shui House residents

The medical surveillance period for Wing Shui House ended yesterday, Dr Chan said, adding that cleaning, disinfection, environmental tests and so on had been completed.

She expressed her gratitude to the residents and management there for their efforts in keeping their block clean and urged them to keep up the good work.

Recovering SARS patients deserve respect

In answer to a reporter's query, Dr Chan said that discrimination against SARS patients is an ongoing concern. "People who have recovered should be respected and treated with dignity," she said.

Asked about reports that Japan had asked medical workers from Greater China who had treated SARS patients not to visit, Dr Chan replied that she had not seen this request. She said it was an unnecessary move, given that Hong Kong had not exported a SARS case since mid-April and that the measures in use at boundary checkpoints were adequate in ensuring it does not happen in future.