Covid-19 cases are witnessing a renewed upswing across several Asian nations, with notable increases in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand. This resurgence comes unexpectedly during a period when respiratory infections typically decline, raising fresh concerns about the virus’s unpredictability.
In Hong Kong, health authorities have raised alerts after detecting a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections. According to Albert Au from the Centre for Health Protection’s Communicable Disease Branch, the positivity rate among respiratory samples has reached the highest level in over a year. The city recorded 31 severe cases in the week ending May 3 — the largest weekly tally in the past 12 months. Local media have also reported increased viral loads in sewage samples, and a growing number of people are seeking treatment for Covid-related symptoms. The virus has impacted public events too, with popular singer Eason Chan testing positive, leading to the cancellation of his shows in Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Singapore reported a 28% rise in Covid-19 cases during the same week, with approximately 14,200 new infections. Hospitalizations rose by about 30%. The Ministry of Health noted that the surge is likely due to waning immunity rather than the emergence of new variants. Current strains do not appear to be more severe or more transmissible, officials clarified. Nonetheless, health authorities are advising vulnerable groups, especially the elderly and immunocompromised, to receive booster doses.
China is also showing signs of a resurgence. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention noted that the Covid-19 positivity rate in hospitals more than doubled in the five weeks leading up to May 4, hinting at a possible wave comparable to last year’s summer outbreak.
In Thailand, officials reported two notable outbreaks this year, with a significant rise in cases following the country’s traditional Songkran festival in April — a time of mass public celebrations, which likely contributed to increased transmission.
The fresh wave highlights that Covid-19 continues to pose a public health challenge. The fact that this rise in cases is happening during warmer months contradicts earlier assumptions about the virus’s seasonal nature. As the region faces this latest resurgence, experts stress the need for continued surveillance, vaccination efforts, and regional cooperation to manage and contain the spread.
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