Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, May 20: Singapore has witnessed a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, prompting health authorities and global experts to keep a close watch on the evolving situation. In the week between April 27 and May 3, the city-state recorded 14,200 new infections — a significant increase from 11,100 cases reported the previous week.
According to the Ministry of Health, the spike is attributed to declining immunity among the population and the circulation of new COVID-19 variants, notably LF.7 and NB.1.8, both descendants of the JN.1 strain. These now account for over two-thirds of all sequenced cases locally. The JN.1 variant is also the basis for the current COVID-19 vaccine in use.
Hospitals in Singapore are witnessing a steady inflow of patients, though most present with mild symptoms such as sore throat, nausea, brain fog, vomiting, conjunctivitis, and cough. Authorities are urging people — particularly the elderly, immunocompromised, and healthcare workers — to get booster doses of the vaccine and adhere to basic safety protocols like mask-wearing in crowded areas, hand hygiene, and isolating when unwell.
The Ministry has reiterated that while the current variants are infectious, vaccinations continue to be effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization.
Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director of Max Healthcare and a senior internal medicine specialist, explained that the JN.1 variant and its sub-lineages belong to the Omicron family. These variants, while highly transmissible, do not appear to cause serious illness in most patients.
Speaking , Dr Budhiraja said, “We are seeing more cases this summer in Southeast Asian nations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. What’s unusual is the timing — summer months typically don’t see peaks in respiratory illnesses. However, this variant is not fundamentally different from earlier ones. It spreads fast but doesn't seem to be more dangerous.”
The expert emphasized that symptoms remain largely consistent with earlier COVID-19 infections and urged continued compliance with precautions like social distancing and wearing masks. Dr Budhiraja also stressed the importance of international collaboration for genomic surveillance to track the movement of the virus and determine if it’s spreading across borders.
Dr Budhiraja believes that waning immunity due to the decline in regular vaccination drives is a key factor. “COVID-19 never entirely disappeared. It persisted in low levels and has now found a window of opportunity as immunity among populations diminishes. The virus has not become more deadly — it’s the reduced immunity in the community that is fuelling this resurgence,” he observed.
For India, the situation remains under control with fewer than 100 active COVID-19 cases currently reported. However, experts are urging authorities and citizens to remain alert.
“India should closely monitor travellers, especially from regions reporting outbreaks, and carry out genomic surveillance. There’s no need to panic or issue mass advisories yet. But if cases begin rising, especially among the elderly and those with comorbidities, we may need to revisit our booster strategy,” Dr Budhiraja advised.
While Singapore grapples with the current surge, Indian health experts and authorities continue to watch developments closely. With precautions in place and public cooperation, experts believe the situation can be managed without causing widespread alarm.