The Covid-19 cases have started rising once again in two of the major financial hubs of Asia, almost after a year. The Singapore health ministry reported in its first update on virus infectious cases in almost a year this month that the number of Covid-19 cases jumped by 28% in the week through May 3. The Hong Kong centre’s data showed that severe cases of the virus reached their highest level after a year, in the week through 3 May.
Data on Hong Kong’s cases of the now-epidemic and its response:
In Hong Kong, the virus activity is quite high, Albert Au, the head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the Health Protection City’s Center, told the media this week. He added that the percentage of respiratory samples that are testing Covid-positive in the city recently reached its year’s highest.
It has also been reported in the center’s data that severe cases, including deaths, reached 31, the highest level in a year, in the week through May 3rd. While the resurgence has yet to match the infection peaks seen in the previous two years, the rising viral load has been found in sewage water, and Covid-related medical consultations and hospitalizations suggest that the virus is actively spreading in the city of over 7 million people.
In response to the rising number of cases, Hong Kong singer Eason Chan has canceled his upcoming concerts in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The singer also tested positive for Covid-19, according to an announcement on the Weibo account, the concert’s official website said on Thursday.
Data on Singapore’s rising cases and its response:
Singapore, another major financial hub of Asia, is also on Covid alert. The city-state’s health ministry released its first update on infection numbers almost after a year in this month, as the estimated number of cases jumped to 28% or 14,200 in the week in the previous seven days and daily hospitalisation rose around 30%. Now, Singapore only provides case updates when there will be a noticeable spike.
The possible reasons of the new wave resurgence and solutions:
The reasons of this sudden spike in numbers of infectious cases could be due to factors such as decreasing population immunity, but there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or can cause more cases than the earlier pandemic, said Singapore’s Health Ministry.
Health authorities of the countries, witnessing spike in Covid positive cases, have asked their people to keep their vaccinations updated and reminding high-risk individuals such as elderly and children to get booster shots.
Is the current resurgence of cases concerning?
The concerning aspect about current resurgence of the virus is unlike other typical respiratory infections that spike in colder months, this Covid-19 wave is emerging as the Northern Hemisphere heads into summer season. This trend highlights the capacity of virus to spread widely and severely even in unfavorable weather conditions.
Scenario of other Asian Countries:
China, another major country in Asia, with a vast population, is also seeing a rise in cases. According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the country appears to experience a extensive summer wave that is quite similar last year. The positivity rate of Covid has become more than doubled among patients tested at hospitals across China in last five weeks through May 4.
In Thailand, the Department of Disease Control has identified two clusters of outbreak so far this year. The number of cases has started getting spiked after the annual celebrations of the Songkran Festival in April, that brings crowd together.
