Press Release - May 12, 2003


The following is jointly issued by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR):

In Hong Kong, a total of 1066 patients have recovered from SARS and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 7 were discharged today (May 12). There are now 399 patients in hospital, of whom 76 are recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 5 patients confirmed to have Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include two healthcare workers (one from Tuen Mun Hospital and one from Shatin Hospital). The remaining three are other patients and contacts of patients with SARS.

Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the treatment protocol. Sixty-one patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Three patients died in Tai Po Hospital (TPH), Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital(QEH). This brought to 218 the total number of deaths relating to SARS in Hong Kong.

The deceased include a man and two women aged from 50 to 83. Their information is as follows: