A woman hospitalized yesterday for symptoms of pneumonia remained in isolation while awaiting test results from Hong Kong, The Health Bureau announced today (21 April).

According to a press release from the Health Bureau, The patient’s fever was relieved from 40ºC this morning after medication but other symptoms like coughs, headache and vomits remain. She was treated with antibiotics and antiviral medicines.

According to the Health Bureau, as X-ray images revealed signs of pneumonia while level of white blood cells did not rise, the patient was suspected to have contracted SARS and thus hospitalized in the isolation care unit of the Conde S. Januario Hospital.

The patient would be closely monitored while samples of her sputum and excrements were sent to Hong Kong for viral testing, noted the Health Bureau, and relevant information would be disclosed.

On the other hand, a Taiwanese man claimed to be sick was sent to the Conde S. Januario Hospital for X-ray today despite he did not run a fever. X-ray images also revealed no signs of pneumonia and the man had returned to Taiwan this evening.

Over 7,000 people have had their temperature taken at the three checkpoints in the 24 hours prior to 17:00 today, respectively 1,000 at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, 5,000 at the Border Gate and 1,000 at the Macau International Airport. Doctors in the consultation posts at the checkpoints had answered three inquiries and two people were sent to hospital for consultation.

The Health Bureau noted that the result of the measure to take the temperature of arrivals were satisfying and the bureau would adjust the man power involved in this measure according to the number of arrivals.