China's COVID-19 wave at peak plateau as Omicron variant dominates

The latest round of the COVID-19 epidemic in China has peaked and plateaued, with the upward trend now markedly slowing, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

The country reported 522,000 confirmed infections last month, including 487 severe cases and one related death, compared to 79,000 total cases in June.

All tested infection samples were identified as the Omicron variant, with the NB.1.8.1 strain and its sublineages dominant in circulation.

The China CDC said COVID-19 has now become a common respiratory infectious disease, and the country is expected to experience one to two epidemic waves each year.

The current outbreak remains a routine, periodic fluctuation, with intensity comparable to that of the previous two years.

The upward trajectory has noticeably slowed, and the epidemic is now at a peak plateau, with signs of fluctuation.

The China CDC added that the severity of the disease has not changed, with the vast majority of infections presenting as mild cases. The elderly and individuals with chronic underlying conditions continue to face a higher risk of severe illness, though targeted and effective therapeutic options remain available.

Surveillance has detected no variants of major public health concern, and the recent wave has not caused any significant disruption to the overall medical system.