Spike In COVID-19 Cases Occurs Again In China, Experts Say

Illustration of COVID-19 in China (Photo: Freepik/EyeEm)

JAKARTA - After easing, the spike in COVID-19 cases has now hit China again. The country with the largest population in the world reported a significant increase in infection cases from March to May 2025, which experts say will soon peak before starting to decline in June.

This was revealed by Prof. Zhong Nanshan, China's leading respiratory disease expert who is widely known as China's 'Anthony Fauci'.

"This wave of COVID-19 infections is at its peak and is expected to decline next month," said Prof. Zhong, quoted from the South China Morning Post website.

In his remarks at the Week of Science and Technology event in Guangzhou, Zhong said the virus this time had a higher transmission rate, although its symptoms still resemble ordinary influenza.

"The symptoms are similar to the flu, but the inflammation of the throat is clearer," he said as quoted from the media Thepaper.cn.

According to data from China's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the test results from outpatients and patients with severe symptoms showed an increase in positive cases from 7.5% at the end of March to 16.2% early May.

Even so, the CDC insists that no new pathogens or infectious diseases have been found that have not been recognized. All detected viruses are common variants that are well known, especially the Omicron variant of the XDV series.

"Although the number of cases is increasing, overall the rate of acute respiratory infection remains low," the CDC explained in a report released on May 8.

Reports also note that China's southern region reported more cases than the northern region. Although the possibility of a subsequent large wave is considered low, the government continues to urge the public to maintain vigilance.

"Wash hands, vaccinate, and immediately seek treatment if there are symptoms," CDC researcher An Zhijie said in a statement broadcast on CCTV.

Zhong also reminded the importance of additional protection for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and people with chronic diseases.

"Those over 65 years of age or have medical conditions should wear masks and avoid crowded places with bad ventilation," he added.

For children under five years of age, Zhong admits that there is still a lack of research on the effectiveness of treatment, making strict monitoring by medical personnel indispensable.

"In this case, it is important to improve care and clinical observation," he told Guangzhou Daily.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Hong Kong also reported a significant increase. On May 15, the local Health Protection Center recorded a surge in the proportion of positive respiratory samples from 6.2% to 13.7% in four weeks. Similar results were also found in waste tests and general clinical reports. However, experts assess the impact of the currently circulating variant is not as heavy as before.

"There is no indication that this variant causes more severe symptoms than the previous wave," the researchers said.

With the downward trend expected from June, experts continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance without panic. The current situation shows that even though the pandemic has passed, COVID-19 is still part of the global health dynamics that must continue to be monitored.