Press Release - May 14, 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 1128 patients have recovered from SARS and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 38 were discharged today (May 14). There are now 343 patients in hospital, of whom 68 are recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional nine patients confirmed to have Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include one healthcare worker from Caritas Medical Centre. The remaining eight are other patients and contacts of patients with SARS.

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

Two patients died in United Christian Hospital (UCH) and Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH). This brought to 227 the total number of deaths relating to SARS in Hong Kong.

The deceased include two men aged 40 and 72. Their information is as follows: