Thirty one patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) were admitted to, while 41 were discharged from, and 12 died in hospitals in Hong Kong, said a statement jointly issued by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong.

As at 1 p.m. Saturday, there is an additional 31 patients confirmed to have SARS following admission to public hospitals earlier.

A total of 363 patients have recovered from SARS and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 41 were discharged on Saturday.

Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the new treatment protocol. One hundred and nine patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Twelve patients died during the past day, which is the highest single day death figure and brought to 81 the total number of deaths related to SARS.

The cumulative figure for patients who have been admitted to public hospitals with SARS since March 12 is 1,358.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2003)