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15 May 2003
SARS: NO NEW PROBABLE CASES
There are no new probable cases, discharges or deaths reported today. The number of patients who have recovered from SARS is 157, with 19 patients still hospitalised and 7 of them in intensive care.
Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
There are currently 30 inpatients and 13 staff from IMH warded in TTSH for observation of fever. They are all in stable condition. The patients are from Wards 64, 65, 35 and 50B. 5 staff have been discharged today as they have had no fever for more than 48 hours.
So far, PCR testing for coronavirus has been negative in samples taken from 15 patients, including the 5 staff who were discharged today. Of 5 patients who were tested, 3 were positive for influenza B virus. As investigations are still in progress, the IMH cluster will continue to be managed as a SARS outbreak.
Hotel Accommodation for IMH Staff
All IMH staff have now been settled into hotels. This measure was taken by IMH senior management for the wellbeing and morale of the healthcare workers, who will continue to work and to look after patients in IMH. At the same time, it would allow the family of the staff to continue with their daily routines uninterrupted.
The IMH staff are asymptomatic, well and non-infectious. However, as a precautionary measure, all IMH staff will have their temperature monitored thrice daily. During their stay at the hotel, they will stay in their rooms and will not have any visitors or use the hotel's facilities. In addition, all hotels providing the services have been briefed on precautionary measures to be taken.
Follow up for IMH Outpatients
Outpatients who may miss their follow-up appointments as a result of the closure of the outpatients' clinic at IMH will be contacted progressively by IMH staff. From Friday, 16 May 2003, these patients will be seen at Alexandra Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic along Viking Road. This clinic will open from 8am to 8pm. Outpatients who have been called by IMH to collect their medicines should go to Alexandra Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic at the appointed time.
Suspect Cases
There were no new suspect cases admitted today.
New Observation Cases
In addition to the IMH cluster, there were 4 admissions today for observation. They comprise 1 traveler, 1 patient who was previously admitted to SGH and 2 whose contact history has not been established.
Quarantine Figures*
#Discharged patients under home quarantine:522 (including 20 patients discharged from IMH)
Contacts under home quarantine: 198 (including 171 related to IMH cluster)
Total under home quarantine orders: 720
*Quarantine cases refer to those who are required to stay at home for precautionary reasons as they may have had contact with a SARS patient. These are healthy individuals.
# This is an added precautionary measure for discharged SARS patients as well as those with co-morbidities.
Summary of SARS Cases
A summary of the SARS cases to date:
Discharged: 157
Hospitalised: 19 (including 7 in intensive care)
Deaths: 28
Total No. of Probable Cases: 205*
Total No. of Suspect Cases: 1
Total No. of Observation Cases: 14 + 43 from IMH cluster
*includes 1 case who died from non-SARs causes
Travel Advisory
MOH urges the public to heed the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s advice to postpone travel to Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Shanxi, and Taipei until another time.