Covid-19 cases blast again: Don’t travel these countries now

Covid-19 cases blast again: Covid-19 is making headlines again. In Hong Kong, weekly cases have increased 30-fold in 10 weeks. Cases in Singapore have increased by about 30% in a week. There are also reports of significant increases in China and Thailand.

Covid-19 cases blast in Hong Kong:

Hong Kong reported 1,042 cases in the week ending May 10. In the previous week, the number of cases was 972. According to the Hong Kong government, the surge in infections has continued since early March, when 33 cases were being recorded per week.

The ever-increasing positivity rate is a matter of great concern. From 0.31 per cent in the week ending March 1, the positivity rate rose to 5.09 per cent in the week ending April 5, to 13.66 per cent in the week ending May 10. Hong Kong has registered nearly 50 severe Covid-19 cases, including deaths, in a fortnight.

“The public is advised to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times to protect themselves against COVID-19 infection and prevent the spread of the disease in the community,” the Hong Kong government advised.
Covid-19 cases in Singapore rose 30% from 11,100 in the week ended April 27 to 14,200 in the week ended May 3. During the same period, the average daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations rose from 102 to 133, according to the Singapore government.

The government has said that the increase in cases could be due to several factors, including a decrease in the population’s immunity. At present, LF.7 and NB.1.8 descendants of the JN.1 variant are the main Covid-19 variants circulating in Singapore, together accounting for more than two-thirds of the cases. Notably, JN.1 is also the variant used in the formulation of the current vaccine.

The current COVID-19 situation in India is under control and as of May 19, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India is 257, Union Health Ministry sources said on Monday (May 19, 2025).

The statement comes following a recent review meeting of experts from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central government hospitals convened under the chairpersonship of Director General of Health Services (DGHS).

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