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COVID-19 cases are rising once again in China due to seasonal factors, with health experts predicting the current wave will peak by the end of May and start to subside in June.
According to The Paper, leading infectious disease expert Cong Nanshan highlighted during a conference in Guangzhou that the increase in COVID-19 cases in spring mirrors trends seen across other parts of the world.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on May 8 that the rate of COVID-19 detections among patients presenting with cold and respiratory symptoms rose from 7.5% to 16.2% between March 31 and May 4.
In April alone, 168,508 COVID-19 cases were diagnosed nationwide. Samples taken from approximately 5% of those cases showed that all were caused by the Omicron variant and its sublineage XDV.
Experts have stressed that while the rise in cases is notable, the current wave does not present the characteristics of a major outbreak. However, they urge the public to maintain personal protective measures. Elderly individuals and those with chronic conditions showing symptoms are advised to seek medical care promptly.
The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and soon escalated into a global pandemic. The outbreak led to millions of deaths worldwide and brought unprecedented lockdowns and restrictions that severely disrupted global economies and social life.
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