Health experts affirm slight COVID-19 case rise reflects normal viral fluctuation

Health specialists reassure the public that COVID-19 remains under control, despite a slight increase in the percentage of positive cases among flu-like illnesses reported in outpatient clinics.

During the monitoring period from March 31 to May 4, the COVID-19 positivity rate among influenza-like cases in outpatient and emergency departments increased from 7.5 percent to 16.2 percent, according to data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.

The data also shows that among hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases, the COVID-19 positivity rate rose from 3.3 percent to 6.3 percent. Between April 14 and May 4, COVID-19 surpassed rhinovirus to become the leading pathogen causing influenza-like illness visits in outpatient and emergency settings.

Despite the slight increase in cases, doctors emphasize that this is simply a normal fluctuation, Health Times reported on Tuesday.

Cai Weiping, chief expert in the infectious disease center at Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, said there is no difference between this round of COVID-19 infection and previous ones, with very few critically ill patients requiring hospitalization. Currently, there are no critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

Cai added: "There is no notable increase in fever clinic cases, but the proportion of positive COVID-19 cases has risen moderately. It's quite normal as 10 months have passed since the last COVID-19 peak, and people's antibody levels have had time to decline or disappear."

Zhao Lei, chief physician of the department of infectious diseases at Wuhan Union Hospital of China, said it's normal for COVID-19 and similar respiratory diseases to have fluctuating transmission periods.

However, Zhao warned that people should still be cautious. "Its symptoms are more severe than upper respiratory infections. It could be deadly, especially for the elderly and people with underlying diseases."