COVID-19 uptick seen as normal fluctuation

China's summer uptick in COVID-19 cases remains within the usual range, with authorities stepping up efforts to ensure adequate supplies of targeted therapies and prompt medical care.

Latest data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that COVID-19 activity in China has remained at a moderate level overall, while the upward trend in the positivity rate has slowed.

From July 27 to Aug 2, the COVID-19 positivity rate among influenza-like illness cases at sentinel hospitals nationwide stood at 22.3 percent, up two percentage points from the previous week and the highest among all respiratory viruses.

The influenza positivity rate ranked second at 13.3 percent, followed by the enterovirus at 4.1 percent.

"The upward trend in COVID-19 activity has moderated, with positivity rates higher in southern provinces than in northern ones and the highest rate observed among the 15-to-59 age group," the China CDC said.

It added that the vast majority of infections are mild and caused by the NB. 1.8.1 strain, a descendant of the Omicron variant.

The China CDC stressed that COVID-19 has become a common respiratory illness that tends to trigger one to two epidemic waves each year. The current uptick is a normal periodic fluctuation, and its intensity is similar to that seen in the previous two years.

No variant strains posing a significant public health risk have been detected, and broader medical services have not been affected by the recent increase in infections, the China CDC said.

Li Tongzeng, chief physician at the infectious disease department of Beijing You An Hospital, said waning immunity, combined with increased population movement and indoor gatherings, has contributed to the current wave.

More than six months have passed since the last wave of infections, Li said, adding that overall antibody levels in the population have declined.

Unlike influenza, which peaks in winter and early spring, COVID-19 does not show a strong seasonal pattern, Li said.

"People tend to travel and gather more frequently in the summer and stay in air-conditioned, less-ventilated spaces due to high temperatures, making it easier for the virus to circulate," he said.

However, Li said, the Chinese population still has a certain level of hybrid immunity from previous vaccinations and natural infections, and the virus has not appeared to be more dangerous or transmissible.

Most infected people experience mild symptoms such as low to moderate fever, sore throat and nasal congestion, with a low risk of developing pneumonia or requiring hospitalization. The majority can recover within a week without special interventions, he said.

The elderly and people with serious underlying diseases are advised to take extra precautions and seek prompt diagnosis and antiviral treatment, Li said.

The National Health Commission said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that eight oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 are currently available in China, with more undergoing drug review and approval.

A sampling survey shows that supplies of these antiviral drugs at public hospitals in Henan, Hubei and Guangdong provinces remain generally stable.

The commission said it will continue monitoring COVID-19 trends and guide local authorities to ensure adequate supplies of targeted therapies, while providing more standardized, accessible and convenient care for patients.