Hong Kong is experiencing its highest levels of COVID-19 virus activity in a year, with increased positive test rates, severe cases, and widespread community transmission indicated by sewage surveillance.
BY PC Bureau
COVID-19 has once again causing serious concern across Asia, with Hong Kong and Singapore experiencing alarming increases in infections, hospitalizations, and overall virus activity, according to a Bloomberg report. This resurgence challenges earlier expectations that warmer months would naturally lead to a slowdown in the disease’s spread.
In Hong Kong, health authorities are raising serious concerns. Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the Center for Health Protection, stated, “The virus’ activity is quite high.” Recent data reveals the city has recorded its highest percentage of COVID-positive respiratory samples in a year. Furthermore, severe cases, tragically including deaths, have also reached a year-high, with 31 fatalities reported in the week ending May 3rd. Adding to the concern, sewage surveillance, a recognized and reliable indicator of community transmission, indicates significantly elevated viral loads, confirming widespread circulation of the coronavirus within the city of over 7 million residents.
A fresh wave of Covid-19 is sweeping across Asia. Hong Kong and Singapore are reporting sharp rises in infections, hospitalisations, and severe cases. Health officials warn of declining immunity and urge the public to get vaccinated and boosted.#Covid19 #CovidWave #HongKong… pic.twitter.com/YRmbDl0O1U
— The CSR Journal (@thecsrjournal) May 16, 2025
ALSO READ: “Army Bows Before Modi”, Says MP Deputy CM, Triggering Outrage
Singapore is also contending with a notable surge in COVID-19 cases. For the first time in nearly a year, the Ministry of Health issued a formal COVID-19 update following a substantial 28% increase in infections within a single week, reaching an estimated 14,200 cases. Consequently, hospitalizations have also seen a significant jump of 30%. In response, the government has proactively reminded residents considered high-risk, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, to ensure their vaccinations are up to date. While current data suggests no new, more virulent variant is responsible for the spike, health experts attribute the increased transmission to waning immunity within the population. “There’s no evidence these strains are more severe,” the Singaporean health ministry clarified, “but they are still capable of disrupting lives and overwhelming healthcare systems.”
The impact of this resurgence is already being felt beyond hospital capacities. In Taiwan, the popular Hong Kong singer Eason Chan tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the cancellation of his highly anticipated concerts in Kaohsiung this week, much to the disappointment of thousands of fans.
ALSO READ: AKs, RPG, M4 Rifle Recovered from Slain PDF cadres in Chandel
The trend of increasing COVID-19 activity appears to be extending to other parts of the region. In China, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a concerning doubling of COVID-19 test positivity rates among hospital patients over the past five weeks, indicating a growing burden on the healthcare system. Similarly, in Thailand, health officials from the Department of Disease Control have observed cluster outbreaks of the virus following the recent Songkran (Thai New Year) gatherings, highlighting the potential for large-scale events to fuel transmission.
