As at 3pm today, 36 new patients in public hospitals were confirmed to have atypical pneumonia.

A total of 257 patients - more than 20% of the total number of cases - have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 14 were sent home today.

The new patients include seven healthcare workers (six from Princess Margaret Hospital and one from Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital).

Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the treatment protocol, a combination of the anti-viral drug Ribavirin and steroids.

Of the 950 patients in hospital, 122 - less than 13% - are receiving treatment in the intensive-care unit.

Five patients died in hospitals, bring to 61 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia. A 54-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man, both with a history of chronic disease, died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

A 44-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman died in Princess Margaret Hospital. Another chronically ill man, aged 73, died in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital.

The Chief Executive will brief the press at 6:15pm.