Sharp increase in infections | Asia faces corona wave

On June 1, a 75-year-old woman succumbed to COVID-19 in the village of Pachgaon in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The case of the elderly woman, who suffered from diabetes, made headlines across the country. According to rumors on social media, crematorium staff allegedly refused to prepare the deceased for cremation. However, Vijay Patil, head of the relevant health department, refuted this claim: "The crematorium staff performed the traditional rites for the woman in compliance with all safety regulations."

Nevertheless, the case highlights the current concern in India about a new wave of coronavirus. COVID-19 infections have increased again, with a focus on Maharashtra and Kerala. According to the Health Ministry in Delhi, there were 3,758 active COVID cases across the country at the beginning of June.

A few days ago, the World Health Organization pointed out that a sharp rise in coronavirus cases has been observed since mid-February, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, Western Pacific, and Southeast Asia regions . Thailand appears to be particularly affected. In the last week of May alone, 65,880 new coronavirus infections and three deaths were reported in the popular holiday destination. The numbers have risen sharply here, especially since the Buddhist New Year in mid-April, which Thais and tourists celebrate for days with excessive water fights and street parties involving tens of thousands of people.

In Hong Kong, the health authority reported the highest number of positive coronavirus tests in twelve months in May. Wastewater analyses showed a virtually exploding viral load. The Singapore government reported in mid-May that the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients had risen to 350 per week. A rise in coronavirus cases was also observed in the US and the UK this spring, while continental Europe has not yet been affected. According to current data from the Robert Koch Institute, LP.8.1 is not yet so common. In general, the SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV viral loads in wastewater are currently at a low level.

However, global data show that COVID-19 remains active, even at a time of year when respiratory illnesses are typically less common. The wave in Asia is due to the new virus variant LP.8.1, which is more able to evade immune protection. However, as with early omicron variants, the course of the disease generally remains mild. The WHO, meanwhile, recommends that vaccine manufacturers base their new vaccines on LP.8.1 and two other widely circulating variants. The EU Medicines Agency (EMA) also recently called on companies to "contact it to discuss strategies for changing the composition of their vaccines."

As an ordinary citizen, you don't have to deal with the cryptic jumble of letters and numbers. Even in the affected Asian countries, there are no mandatory mask mandates, lockdowns, or travel warnings in sight. However, experts strongly recommend booster vaccinations and warn against unfounded panic. Vijay Patil in India likely spoke from the heart of doctors around the world when he said: "People are asked not to spread rumors."