Indonesia issues Covid-19 warning over surge in cases in Asia

There has been a rise in Covid-19 cases in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong as health officials warn about new strains emerging

Several Southeast Asian countries have reported a surge in Covid-19 cases, as regional health officials urged the public and medical institutions to take precautionary measures against the disease.

On Saturday, Indonesia’s health ministry warned in a circular that Covid-19 outbreaks were spreading in the region, including in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The dominant Covid-19 variants were XEC and JN.1 in Thailand, LF.7 and NB.1.8 in Singapore, JN.1 in Hong Kong, and XEC in Malaysia, said Murti Utami, the ministry’s acting director of disease control.

“However, the infection transmission and the death rate are still relatively low,” she added.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia fell from 28 to three over a week in May, according to a report by the Antara news agency.

The health ministry has urged medical institutions to implement timely measures to address the surge in Covid-19 cases across Asia, such as issuing public alerts and putting in place early detection processes. It also advised the public to use masks in crowded areas and seek medical advice for respiratory problems.

Thailand recorded 65,880 Covid-19 cases and three deaths in the last week of May, according to a Bangkok Post report citing Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, who said on Monday that the outbreak was easing from its yearly peak.

Among the new cases, people aged 30 to 39 formed the largest group.

“People may be shocked with the five-digit number of new cases and I have told medical personnel to be prepared to handle the situation … However, the Division of Epidemiology reported that the outbreak has started to wane and its peak has already passed,” Somsak said.

Malaysian health authorities said last month that the country’s pandemic situation remained stable with 11,727 Covid-19 cases recorded as of early May despite a surge in cases in the region, according to a report by Malay Mail, citing the health ministry.

In Singapore, the number of Covid-19 cases rose to 14,200 in the April 27 to May 3 week from 11,100 in the previous week.

“As with other endemic respiratory diseases, periodic Covid-19 waves are expected throughout the year. The increase in cases could be due to several factors, including waning population immunity,” the ministry said in a statement on May 13.

A medical expert told Singapore-based news broadcaster CNA last month that a decline in the take-up rate for vaccine jabs had led to a drop in immunity against Covid-19.

Lim Kim Show, medical director of Life Family Clinic, said most patients who turned up at his clinic had not been vaccinated in the past one to two years. As such, the public was more vulnerable to newer Covid-19 strains, especially individuals facing higher risks of infection, he added.