May 16, 2025: A fresh wave of Covid-19 is sweeping across major Southeast Asian cities, with Hong Kong and Singapore witnessing a sharp spike in new cases. Health officials have issued alerts as community transmission intensifies in both cities.
In Hong Kong, Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the Centre for Health Protection, said Covid-19 activity is currently “quite high.” The number of positive respiratory samples is at its highest since last year, with 31 severe cases reported in the week leading up to May 3. Rising hospital admissions, increased doctor visits, and high viral loads in sewage suggest active community spread in the densely populated city of over 7 million. Authorities have urged residents, especially children and the elderly, to get their booster shots.
Singapore is also seeing a worrying rise. According to its Health Ministry, cases rose by 28% to 14,200 in the first week of May, while hospital admissions increased by around 30%. This is the first formal Covid update by the ministry in nearly a year.
Thailand too has reported two cluster outbreaks in 2025, with cases rising post the April Songkran festival, a major annual event that draws large crowds.
Experts believe declining immunity and seasonal factors could be behind the spike. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Covid-19 transmission tends to rise in warmer months—unlike most respiratory infections, which peak in winter.
Health authorities across the region are urging the public, particularly high-risk groups, to stay updated with their vaccinations as the virus continues to show periodic resurgence.
