Singapore is experiencing a spike in Covid-19 cases, though health authorities say there's no indication of worrisome viral mutations, according to a joint statement from the Health Ministry and Disease Agency
Published May 21, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 21, 2025 | 7:00 AM
This latest Covid wave has been attributed to the new subvariant JN.1.
Synopsis: A recent surge in Covid-19 cases across parts of Asia has raised alarms in India, where 164 new infections have been reported since 12 May. Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu lead the spike, contributing the majority of active cases. The rise comes amid concerns over JN.1 subvariants driving outbreaks in countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand
A fresh wave of Covid-19 cases in several Asian countries has triggered concern in India. Nations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand are witnessing a resurgence of infections. In Singapore, the spike has been linked to subvariants of the JN.1 strain.
India, too, has recorded a recent uptick in Covid-19 cases. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are currently 257 active infections across the country. Since 12 May, a total of 164 new cases have been reported, with Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu accounting for the majority.
Kerala recorded 69 new cases, followed by Maharashtra with 44 and Tamil Nadu with 34. Other states reporting fresh infections include Karnataka (8), Gujarat (6), Delhi (3), and one case each in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.
Some reports even came that Maharashtra also reported two deaths, but health officials have clarified that Covid-19 was not the cause. The deceased—a 59-year-old cancer patient and a 14-year-old girl with kidney disease—were admitted to Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital and had tested positive for the virus. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed that their deaths resulted from underlying health conditions, not the coronavirus itself.
The JN.1 variant, which is contributing to the surge in some Asian countries, has already been detected in India. It is a sub-lineage of the BA.2.86 or ‘Pirola’ strain, part of the Omicron family. This variant is known for its ability to evade immunity and is more contagious than previous Omicron subvariants.
But, is there any concern around it?
Singapore is currently witnessing a rise in Covid-19 infections, with health authorities closely monitoring the situation. According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the recent increase in cases is not linked to any alarming changes in the virus.
“There is no indication that the variants circulating locally are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to previously circulating variants,” the agencies said in their advisory dated 13 May 2025.
During the week of 27 April to 3 May 2025, the estimated number of Covid-19 cases climbed to 14,200—up from 11,100 cases the previous week. Average daily hospitalisations also rose from 102 to 133. However, the number of patients requiring intensive care decreased slightly, with ICU admissions dropping from an average of three to two per day.
Health authorities clarified that the healthcare system remains equipped to manage the current caseload.
The increase, they noted, is not unexpected.
“As with other endemic respiratory diseases, periodic Covid-19 waves are expected throughout the year,” the statement read. “The uptick may be due to a combination of factors, including waning population immunity.”
Genomic surveillance indicates that the variants LF.7 and NB.1.8—both descendants of the JN.1 lineage—are currently the dominant strains in circulation. Together, they account for over two-thirds of all locally sequenced Covid-19 cases. The JN.1 strain also forms the basis of the most recent Covid-19 vaccine formulation.
MOH continues to emphasise the importance of vaccination, particularly for high-risk groups.
“Vaccination remains effective in protecting against severe illness,” the statement said, recommending that individuals aged 60 and above, those with underlying medical conditions, and residents of aged care facilities receive an additional vaccine dose approximately one year after their last.
Healthcare workers, as well as people living with or caring for medically vulnerable individuals, are also encouraged to stay up to date with vaccinations. Covid-19 vaccines remain available to all individuals aged six months and above who wish to receive them.
“For the last few days—or even weeks—we have not been getting any COVID-positive samples in the tests we are conducting. So, at this moment, I’m not sure whether India currently has active COVID-19 positivity or not,” Dr E Sreekumar, Director of the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV), told South First.
He added that the emergence of new variants is an ongoing process. It will continue. But the real concern should not be the mutations themselves. “What we should be watching for are abnormal symptoms, signs of severe disease, or any significant changes in the virus’s behaviour.”
Referring to the rise in cases in Singapore, he added, “Even with over 11,000 cases recently, they have not observed any increase in severity. They rightly pointed out that most vaccinations were done two to three years ago, and many people are no longer getting booster shots—so there’s definitely a question of waning immunity.”
He also pointed out that however, most likely, even if a new variant emerges, our immune systems will have memory cells from previous infections or vaccinations. That will act as a natural booster and should help prevent severe disease—unless the virus is drastically different, such as a variant with significant changes in its receptor-binding domain (RBD), like the Delta variant. But such a possibility appears very remote.
Dr Sreekumar further explained, “Even earlier, when there was concern that case numbers might rise, it didn’t lead to any major spike. Singapore has a high level of vigilance and surveillance, so they’re able to detect most infections, and naturally, their reported numbers are high. In contrast, India may not have the same coverage—we might be missing cases or under-reporting them—but that’s not necessarily an alarming situation.”
Even as parts of Asia, including Singapore and Hong Kong, report a surge in Covid-19 cases, Indian health authorities say the domestic situation remains stable. According to reports, India is closely monitoring global developments but has not seen any alarming spike in cases or hospitalisations.
“The meeting concluded that the current Covid-19 situation in India remains under control,” an official source said following a review meeting chaired by the Director General of Health Services on 19 May 2025. The meeting included experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Emergency Medical Relief Division, Disaster Management Cell, and major Central government hospitals.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to maintain surveillance through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR networks, with hospitals directed to track influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.
According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the JN.1 variant—now accounting for over 95 percent of globally sequenced SARS-CoV-2 samples—is the dominant strain worldwide. Its parent lineage, BA.2.86, remains stable with a global prevalence of 1.6 percent.
“During this reporting period, most of the submitted sequences were of JN.1 sub-variants,” INSACOG noted in its bulletin dated 15 May 2025.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking five variants of interest (VOIs): XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, EG.5, BA.2.86, and JN.1. However, JN.1 is currently perceived as a “low public health risk” globally, based on available data. Other VOIs such as XBB.1.5 and EG.5 have not been reported from India in recent weeks.
Within India, INSACOG has identified 112 cases of KP.1.1 sub-variants (including KP.1.1.1) and 353 cases of KP.2 sub-variants (including KP.2.1 to KP.2.3) across several states including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Goa, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh.
“So far, no increase in disease severity or hospitalisation has been observed with these sub-variants,” INSACOG stated, while also cautioning that “due to limited testing and sampling frequency in some parts of the country, the overall scenario might not yet be fully clear.”
India’s Union Health Ministry has reiterated that it remains vigilant and proactive, especially in light of emerging global trends. While Covid-19 appears to be transitioning into an endemic phase, authorities stress the need for continued surveillance, especially during seasonal spikes.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
