Covid spikes again in Asia: What’s behind the surge and should you be worried?

Covid-19 is once again spreading across parts of Asia, with a notable surge in infections reported in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand. While the virus remains endemic, recent data indicates that countries are entering a fresh wave, likely driven by waning immunity and fewer booster vaccinations among vulnerable groups.

Hong Kong is entering a new wave of Covid-19, with positive respiratory samples and severe cases—including 31 deaths—hitting a one-year high, Bloomberg reported. Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection said virus activity is now “quite high,” with rising sewage viral loads and hospital visits indicating widespread transmission.

Key figures:

Doctors say the current wave is likely to peak within two to three weeks and could last up to three months. 

Singapore’s Ministry of Health has issued its first detailed update in nearly a year following a 28% weekly jump in cases. Hospital admissions have also risen by around 30%.

Highlights:

Authorities say the rise is not due to a more dangerous strain but is instead driven by waning immunity and lower booster uptake, especially among the elderly.

“While the increase in cases could be due to factors including waning population immunity, there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible—or cause more severe cases—than during the pandemic,” the health ministry said. 

In China, Covid-19 is re-emerging, though health officials say the situation remains manageable. Between March 31 and May 4:

According to the Straits Times, critically ill cases remain rare, and hospitals are not overwhelmed, doctors noted.

Data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows China may see a Covid wave similar in scale to last summer’s peak. Test positivity among hospital patients more than doubled in the five weeks through May 4. 

Thailand is experiencing a rise in cases following April’s Songkran festival, which involved large gatherings and increased the risk of transmission.

Updates:

Experts across Asia attribute the Covid resurgence to waning immunity, increased vulnerability among high-risk groups like the elderly and unvaccinated children, and emerging seasonal patterns—while confirming that current variants are not more severe or contagious than earlier ones.

Waning immunity: Health officials in Singapore and Hong Kong point to declining immunity—due to fewer booster shots and time since last infection or vaccination—as a key factor behind rising cases.

No dangerous new variants: The dominant strains, such as LF.7 and NB.1.8 (both JN.1 descendants), aren’t more severe or transmissible than earlier variants, authorities confirm.

More social mixing: Large gatherings, like Thailand’s Songkran festival, have likely increased transmission rates.

Summer spread: Unlike typical respiratory viruses, Covid-19 continues to spread even in warm weather—suggesting an emerging seasonal pattern similar to the flu.

High-Risk Groups at greater risk: The elderly and unvaccinated children remain especially vulnerable in this wave.

In most cases, no. According to a report by Channel News Asia, doctors believe the rise in cases—particularly in Singapore—is largely due to waning immunity. Medical professionals in Singapore and other parts of Asia are treating the current wave as comparable to seasonal flu outbreaks, with most patients recovering without serious complications.

However, people in high-risk categories—the elderly, chronically ill, and unvaccinated—are advised to:

It appears so. Hong Kong’s health authorities say there have been two active Covid periods annually over the past two years, suggesting a seasonal trend. Singapore’s Ministry of Health echoes this, noting that periodic waves are expected, as with other endemic respiratory illnesses. 

Covid-19 isn’t going away—but it is evolving. While current variants aren't more dangerous, low booster rates and fading immunity are allowing the virus to quietly return in several Asian nations. For now, health authorities are urging continued vigilance, especially among vulnerable populations.

The surge in two of Asia's biggest cities comes as Covid has been rising across the region in recent months, with periodic waves of the now-endemic disease. Health officials are urging the public to keep vaccinations up to date and are reminding high-risk groups to get booster shots.

The resurgence is yet another reminder that Covid remains endemic in many parts of the world. And unlike other respiratory viruses that tend to spike during colder months, Covid’s comeback just as much of the northern hemisphere enters summer shows that the virus can still sicken large numbers—even in warm weather.

With inputs from Bloomberg, Agencies