A new wave of COVID-19 is spreading across parts of Southeast Asia, marking the most significant rise in cases in nearly a year. Hong Kong and Singapore are among the hardest-hit cities, reporting sharp increases in infections, hospitalizations, and even deaths, according to Bloomberg.
In Hong Kong, virus activity has reached a “quite high” level, said Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the Center for Health Protection. COVID-19 positivity in respiratory samples is now at its highest in a year. Key indicators — including viral loads in sewage and hospital visits — all show a noticeable spike. In the week ending May 3, the city recorded 31 COVID-related fatalities.
Public life is already affected. Popular singer Eason Chan canceled his Taiwan concerts after testing positive, according to his concert team’s Weibo page.
Singapore Sees 28% Jump in Weekly Cases
Singapore’s Ministry of Health reported 14,200 estimated cases in the first week of May — a 28% increase from the previous week. Hospitalizations also rose by nearly 30%. This is the first significant uptick in the city-state in close to a year.
Authorities attribute the spike largely to waning immunity, though they emphasized that there’s “no indication” that newer variants are more infectious or severe. The surge during typically warmer months is also unusual for respiratory viruses, which tend to thrive in cooler conditions.
China and Thailand Join the Trend
China is also seeing a rise in COVID-19 activity. The Chinese CDC reported that hospital test positivity rates more than doubled in the five weeks leading to May 4.
In Thailand, clusters of infections appeared after the April Songkran festival, a national holiday that sees widespread travel and large public gatherings.
Vaccination Urged for Vulnerable Groups
Health officials across the region are now urging high-risk groups, including the elderly and immunocompromised, to stay current with booster vaccinations to mitigate severe outcomes.
India’s COVID Situation: No Current Spike
Despite the regional rise, India’s COVID-19 dashboard shows only 93 active cases nationwide as of now. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there is no sign of a new wave emerging in the country.
At this stage, there’s little cause for alarm in India, though public health experts continue to watch the region’s developments closely.
