Press Release - April 2, 2003

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

As at 1 pm today (April 2), a total of 89 patients in Hong Kong have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, five are discharged today.

Meanwhile, an additional 23 patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia were admitted to Hong Kong�s public hospitals. They include seven healthcare workers and three patients from Amoy Gardens. The remaining 13 were new patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

In Hong Kong most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the new treatment protocol. Eighty-two of them are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

The cumulative figure for patients who have been admitted to public hospitals with atypical pneumonia since March 12 is as follows: