The Department of Health has confirmed that the 34-year-old woman transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital last night is not suffering from SARS.

Announcing the laboratory test results this afternoon, Director of Health Dr Lam Ping-yan said all laboratory tests were negative for SARS.

He stressed that the Government has never classified the case as a suspected SARS case.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong said the Government will take a number of preventive measures to deal with any possible SARS resurgence, adding that the installation of isolation facilities is on schedule.

"The first group of these isolation wards will be available by the end of this month in Princess Margaret Hospital. We have been discussing with the Hospital Authority to ensure that 70% of the 1,290 beds will be ready by October," Dr Yeoh said.

The 34-year-old patient, who has no history of travel, was short of breath on September 8. She was admitted to Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital two days later and transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital last night.

The patient's daughter, who lives with her, and the patient's parents, whom the patient had visited recently, are all in good health and show no symptoms.