Additional 17 patients were confirmed to have SARS following admission to public hospitals and seven patients died as at 1 pm Wednesday, said the Hong Kong SAR government.

This brought to 1589 the total number of SARS patients and 157 the total number of deaths relating to SARS.

The newly-contracted include four health-care workers from Tuen Mun Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Caritas Medical Center and North District Hospital respectively. The remaining 13 are other patients and contacts of patients with SARS.

The government also said a total of 791 patients have recovered from SARS and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them,32 were discharged Wednesday.

There are also 108 recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

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

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2003)