3 Southeast Asian Countries See Worrying Spike In COVID-19 Cases
Experts warn to be cautious of variants.
Cover image via COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Southeast Asia
This comes two years after the World Health Organisation declared the disease was no longer a public health emergency.
Between 25 and 30 May, Thailand reported 65,880 new COVID-19 cases, alongside three fatalities, according to Bangkok Post, citing Thailand's public health minister Somsak Thepsutin.
Singapore's health authorities are currently observing a recent uptick in COVID-19 with 14,200 cases from 27 April to 3 May, marking a rise from 11,100 cases reported in the preceding week, according to a media release by the Health Ministry (MOH) and the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA).
Indonesia's Health Ministry issued a public health advisory, urging its citizens to remain vigilant and adopt precautionary measures, following a resurgence of cases observed in several Asian nations.
Malaysia is no exception, with the country experiencing a moderate uptick in cases
The Health Ministry reported an average of 600 COVID-19 cases per week between April and May. Between January and May, Malaysia recorded over 13,000 confirmed cases.
However, no COVID-19-related deaths were reported over the same period.
Below are screenshots extracted from KKMNOW's website indicating the rise of COVID-19 confirmed cases and tests conducted in 2025.
Image via KKMNOW
Image via KKMNOW
Authorities and experts warn that while COVID-19 is no longer considered a major threat, emerging mutations and variants may still pose a risk
Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin acknowledged the rise in COVID-19 cases, but emphasised that this increase is "caused by variants that are relatively less deadly".
He also advised healthcare facilities to remain vigilant amid a rising trend of COVID-19 cases in Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, largely driven by the more transmissible but less severe Omicron subvariant, JN.1.
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health expert Professor Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh attributed the current situation to public complacency, noting that COVID-19 is no longer perceived as a major threat.
She stressed the importance of public awareness about viral mutations and the emergence of new variants. Specifically, she highlighted the NB.1.8.1 variant, stating it is "highly transmissible but does not indicate higher virulence, or risk of hospitalisation or deaths".
This new variant appears to cause symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, and gastrointestinal distress.
Dr Sharifa said the current vaccine still offers protection against the prevailing strain. She also reiterated that high-risk individuals, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with high comorbidity, must remain vigilant.
