COVID-19 is once again making headlines in Asia. Countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and China are reporting a sharp spike in infections, while India sees a mild rise in cases but remains cautious. The surge has triggered increased hospital visits and renewed attention from health officials. Experts are pointing to new variants and declining immunity as key reasons.
Sharp Rise in Cases: A Look at Affected Countries
In Singapore, Covid-19 cases jumped from 11,100 to 14,200 in just one week between April 27 and May 3, 2025. Hospitalisations also increased from an average of 102 to 133 daily, though ICU admissions dropped slightly. Singapore’s health ministry has said that hospitals can still handle the growing numbers.
Thailand has seen a more significant spike. From May 11 to May 17, there were 33,030 new cases reported, with at least 6,000 coming from the capital, Bangkok. Health officials have linked this surge to the Songkran holiday period in mid-April and the XEC variant, a form of Omicron. Hong Kong is also facing a steady increase. Between April 6 and April 12, the positivity rate climbed from 6.21% to 13.66%. Health experts there observed that after returning to normal life, Covid-19 has been resurfacing in six- to nine-month cycles. Dr. Edwin Tsui of the Centre for Health Protection believes Hong Kong is now dealing with Covid as an endemic virus that appears periodically.
China has recorded a notable uptick too. From March 31 to May 4, Covid positivity among those with flu-like symptoms rose from 7.5% to 16.2%. For hospital admissions, the rate doubled from 3.3% to 6.3%. These patterns suggest wider community transmission.
Waning Immunity and New Variants Drive the Surge
The current spike is being linked to waning immunity and the spread of new variants. In Singapore, authorities have identified LF.7 and NB.1.8—both offshoots of the JN.1 strain—as dominant variants. These are believed to account for over two-thirds of locally sequenced cases. Notably, JN.1 is the basis of the current Covid-19 vaccine. With many people skipping booster shots for over a year, protection levels have likely dropped. This decline, combined with increased travel and social events, is enabling the virus to spread faster, particularly among seniors.
Hong Kong officials agree that herd immunity is falling. Their data shows that recurring waves are closely tied to changes in dominant strains and the weakening of community-wide protection.
India: Cautious but Under Control
India’s Covid-19 numbers are rising mildly, with 257 cases reported so far. Officials say these are mostly mild cases with no signs of unusual severity or death. Still, the government remains alert.
A high-level review was recently held by the Director General of Health Services. It included experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other national health bodies. A government source confirmed that the Health Ministry is “vigilant and proactive” in keeping the situation under control. For now, there’s no official confirmation of JN.1 or its descendants circulating in the country.
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