New Delhi: Recent weeks have witnessed a rise in Covid-19 cases across Asia, particularly impacting Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. Following the pandemic years that nearly halted global activities, a pressing question arises: Is Covid making a comeback?
In contrast, India has largely escaped the recent wave, with officials asserting that the situation remains manageable.
Key updates on Covid cases include:
In India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported 164 new cases since May 12, bringing the total active infections to 257 as of Tuesday. Kerala recorded the highest number of cases at 69, followed by Maharashtra with 44 and Tamil Nadu with 34.
A review meeting was convened in India, involving experts from various health organizations, including the National Centre for Disease Control and the Indian Council of Medical Research. The meeting, chaired by the Director General of Health Services, concluded that the Covid-19 situation in India is under control, with only 257 active cases as of May 19, 2025, a minimal figure given the country’s vast population. Most cases are mild, requiring no hospitalization, according to an official statement to PTI.
In Mumbai, KEM Hospital reported two deaths of Covid-19 positive patients, both of whom had serious underlying health issues. Sources indicated that one patient had oral cancer and the other nephrotic syndrome, attributing the deaths to these pre-existing conditions rather than Covid-19, as reported by ANI. Opinion class was unable to independently verify this information.
Covid-19 Cases in Hong Kong and Singapore
Despite a rise in cases across Southeast Asia, the situation remains manageable. Officials in both Hong Kong and Singapore have called for vigilance, noting that these fluctuations were anticipated. According to the Singapore Ministry of Health and the Communicable Diseases Agency, the estimated Covid-19 cases for the week of April 27 to May 3 reached 14,200, an increase from the previous week’s count of 11,100, as reported by the Straits Times.
Edwin Tsui, the controller of Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection, stated in a press release, ‘Following the return to normalcy, Hong Kong has seen cycles of Covid-19 activity every six to nine months. We anticipate that the level of Covid-19 activity will remain elevated for at least the coming weeks.’
Last week, Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung mentioned on Facebook that periodic waves of Covid-19 are ‘anticipated throughout the year.’ In South Korea, the Disease Control and Prevention Agency has extended its seasonal Covid vaccination period by two months, now running until the end of June, and recommends that individuals aged 65 and older receive the JN.1 vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE.
