Covid-19 Cases is seen surging in several countries of Asia, like Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Thailand. India is also seen surging of Covid-19 in several states, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu leading. In India the total number of 257 active cases of Covid-19 as of May 19, according to Health Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Covid-19 Dashboard.
As of 12th May status
Kerala 69, Maharashtra 44, Tamil Nadu 34 active cases of Covid-19 are there.
Covid-19 Cases Rising in Asia
Covid-19 cases have been rising in several Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and China, due to various factors.
In Singapore, the health ministry reported that Covid-19 cases rose from 11,100 to 14,200 between April 27 and May 3, 2025. Daily hospitalisations also went up from 102 to 133, though serious ICU cases slightly dropped from three to two. Authorities said that hospitals can still handle the situation.
In India, officials reported 257 active Covid-19 cases and said the country is keeping a close watch on the situation.
In Thailand, Covid-19 cases increased to 33,030 between May 11 and May 17, with around 6,000 cases reported in Bangkok. The XEC variant, a subvariant of Omicron, is believed to be behind the rise, especially after the Songkran holiday celebrations (April 13–15), when people gathered in large numbers.
In Hong Kong, cases have more than doubled in four weeks, rising from 6.21% to 13.66% (April 6–12). Health experts say that since life returned to normal, Hong Kong has been experiencing new Covid waves every six to nine months.
In China, more people with flu-like symptoms are testing positive for Covid-19. From March 31 to May 4, the positivity rate among clinic and emergency room visitors jumped from 7.5% to 16.2%, while hospital admission rates increased from 3.3% to 6.3%, according to China’s CDC.
Why Covid-19 Cases is surging?
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Samantaray stated that a new wave of Covid, currently spreading across Southeast Asia with Singapore as its epicentre, has gained attention in recent days. Hong Kong and Bangkok are also seeing a sudden increase in cases. She explained that this surge could be due to waning immunity in the population, low compliance with annual vaccinations, and the emergence of new sub-variants.
She further noted that health authorities have linked this fresh wave to two new Omicron subvariants – LF.7 and NB.1.8. Both belong to the JN.1 lineage, which was responsible for the major global wave that hit the U.S. and parts of Europe in 2024.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has not officially classified these subvariants as “variants of concern”, their fast-spreading nature has led governments to tighten surveillance and step up testing efforts to detect and control new cases quickly.
What is JN.1 variant?
JN.1 is a subvariant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid19. It is part of a broader lineage that includes mutations making it more transmissible than earlier strains. It was identified in the year 2023 and had spread to countries include US, UK, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.
JN.1 is a descendant of the BA.2.86 (Pirola) lineage, which itself evolved from the original Omicron variant.
Symptoms of JN.1 variant
The symptoms of JN.1 are largely similar to other Omicron subvariants — typically mild in most healthy individuals, including:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Runny nose or congestion
- Cough
