COVID-19 re-emerges in Hong Kong, China, Singapore

Health authorities in Hong Kong, China and Singapore have issued warnings to the public as COVID-19 cases surge amid a resurgence of the disease across Asia.

Hong Kong authorities urge those who have not been vaccinated and have underlying medical conditions to get vaccinated against COVID-19 - Photo: SCMP

Albert Au, head of the communicable diseases branch of Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection, said COVID-19 was spreading "quite high" in the special administrative region.

“The rate of COVID-19 positive test results in Hong Kong has recently reached its highest level in a year,” Au told local media.

According to Bloomberg News, the number of severe cases and deaths from early April to May 3 in Hong Kong also reached the highest level in the past year, with 31 deaths.

In Singapore, the epidemic situation is also complicated. The Singapore Ministry of Health said the number of COVID-19 cases increased by 28% and the number of hospitalizations increased by about 30% within a week, as of May 3. Currently, the "lion island" only provides updates on the number of cases when there is a sudden increase.

Singapore's Ministry of Health added that the spike in COVID-19 cases could be due to weakened immunity in the population. At the same time, the agency also said it had not found any evidence of a new variant of COVID-19 that is more transmissible or more severe than during the pandemic.

Health authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore have urged people in high-risk groups to get a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to prevent the disease.

Meanwhile, China is seeing COVID-19 peak again from the summer of 2024.

According to data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of positive tests for the COVID-19 virus doubled in the five weeks from March 31 to May 4.

People's Daily newspaper quoted Chinese medical experts as saying that the epidemic situation is still under control and relatively stable.

Medical experts from major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Hubei said most young people with COVID-19 recover on their own within three to five days without serious symptoms.

However, they warn that older people are at higher risk of developing severe illness if they contract COVID-19 and should not take the virus lightly.

COVID-19 is resurging in many Asian countries, but experts say it is not a cause for concern - Photo: REUTERS

Thailand has also recorded an explosion in COVID-19 cases since the Songkran "Water Festival" in mid-April.

Thai health experts say the current COVID-19 outbreak is not serious because most cases are mild with flu-like symptoms and can recover after a few days of rest, partly because people have antibodies.

Severe cases are mainly in the elderly with underlying diseases.

Thai health officials say the current COVID-19 virus is similar to seasonal flu and will continue to cause outbreaks every year.

Back to topic

UYEN PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/covid-19-tai-bung-phat-tai-hong-kong-trung-quoc-singapore-20250516113410143.htm