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Journalism of Courage
Asian countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong have noted a surge in Covid-19 cases over the last few weeks. Health authorities in these countries have said that the increase may be because of waning population level immunity to the infection and fewer elderly getting their booster shots.
“There is no indication that the variants circulating locally are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to previously circulating variants,” said Singapore’s ministry of health.
What do the numbers say?
Data from Singapore shows that the estimated number of Covid-19 cases in the week ending on May 3 went up to 14,200 from 11,100 a week before. The average daily hospitalisation due to Covid-19 during this period also increased from 102 to 133, but daily admissions to the ICU declined slightly from 3 to 2.
The health authority added that LF.7 and NB.1.8 — both descendants of JN.1 variant that is used in new Covid-19 vaccines — were circulating in the country. These newer vaccines are unavailable in India.
Hong Kong has seen an increase in Sars-CoV-2 viral load in sewage samples. It has also noted an increase in respiratory samples testing positive for Covid-19, increasing to 13.66 per cent in the week ending on May 10 as compared to 6.21 per cent four weeks ago. It has recorded 81 severe cases, with 30 deaths, almost all of which were in elderly people with underlying health conditions.
Has Covid-19 become a seasonal infection?
It is likely. Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) says, “According to the surveillance data after the resumption of normalcy, there were two relatively active periods of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, which lasted for about 15 weeks from April to July 2023 and for about seven weeks from February to March last year. COVID-19 became more active in mid-April of this year (i.e. about four weeks ago).”
Singapore’s ministry of health says, “As with other endemic respiratory diseases, periodic COVID-19 waves are expected throughout the year.”
What about India?
While not many are undergoing Covid-19 tests in India anymore, data collected from surveillance sites by ICMR laboratories show that there has been an increase in Covid-19 infections over the last few weeks — the number of Sars-Cov-2 positive samples increased to 41 during the week ending on May 11 as compared to 28 the week before, and 12 the week before that. However, the total number of respiratory infections has been on the decline since a surge in September last year.
India typically witnesses two peaks of respiratory infections — one during the winter months and the second immediately after the monsoon.
What should you do?
There is no need to panic at the moment. However, if you do get a respiratory infection, stay at home so that you do not transmit it to others. Avoid closed or crowded spaces as much as possible. If you do have to step out, mask up. And, wash your hands as frequently as possible. These steps will keep you safe not just from Covid-19 but any other respiratory infection.
