Thirty six new patients with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) were admitted to hospitals in Hong Kong while 14 were released after being confirmed of recovery, according to a statement jointly issued by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong.
As at 3 p.m. Wednesday, there is an additional 36 patients confirmed to have SARS following admission to public hospitals earlier, said the statement.
So far, a total of 257 patients have recovered from SARS and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 14 were discharged on Wednesday.
Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the new treatment protocol. One hundred and twenty-two patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.
Another five patients died in hospitals, bring to 61 the total number of deaths relating to SARS.
The cumulative figure for patients who have been admitted to public hospitals with SARS since March 12 is 1268.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)
