Health authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore have raised alarms as Covid-19 infections surge to their highest levels in nearly a year, signaling a fresh wave of the virus across parts of Asia.
In Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection has observed a notable spike in cases, with a significant rise in severe infections. Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch, said the virus’s activity is currently “quite high.” The proportion of respiratory samples testing positive for Covid-19 has climbed to the highest point in a year. In the week through May 3, the number of severe cases reached 31 — the highest weekly count in the past 12 months.
Although the current wave has not yet surpassed the peaks seen in the last two years, other indicators suggest active and widespread transmission. The viral load in sewage samples, along with increasing Covid-related medical consultations and hospitalisations, points to a growing spread in the densely populated city of over 7 million residents.
Singapore is facing a similar trend. In its first public update on infection numbers in nearly a year, the Ministry of Health revealed that Covid-19 cases jumped 28 per cent to 14,200 in the week through May 3, compared to the previous week. Hospitalisations also saw a sharp 30 per cent increase over the same period.
While experts suggest the resurgence may be linked to waning immunity among the population, Singapore’s health ministry has confirmed that there is currently no evidence indicating that the circulating variants are more transmissible than previous ones. Nonetheless, the ministry has urged the public — especially vulnerable groups — to update their vaccinations and get booster shots.
The current surge in infections comes as Covid-19 continues to circulate in the region in periodic waves. Despite being labelled endemic, the virus has shown the ability to infect large portions of the population even during warmer months. This counters trends seen with many other respiratory viruses that usually diminish in the summer.
The outbreak has already affected public life. In Hong Kong, popular singer Eason Chan was forced to cancel his scheduled concerts in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, after contracting the virus. His management announced the cancellation via the concert’s official account on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Meanwhile, in mainland China, data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention indicates the country may soon see a wave of Covid-19 infections matching last summer’s peak. In the five weeks through May 4, test positivity rates among hospital patients more than doubled, underscoring the growing scale of transmission.
In Thailand, the Department of Disease Control reported two cluster outbreaks so far this year, further reflecting the regional uptick in cases.
With major cities like Hong Kong and Singapore now under renewed pandemic pressure, authorities across Asia are calling on citizens to remain vigilant, practise good hygiene, and keep vaccinations up to date to curb the impact of this ongoing resurgence.
