China to see mild COVID spike around Spring Festival
Given the expected large floating population during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays and other factors, it’s predicted that there will be a likely rise in COVID-19 infections around the holiday season, with several respiratory infectious diseases likely to coexist or alternate in prevalence in various regions across the country, Lei Zhenglong, an official from the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, said at a Tuesday press briefing.
Since the beginning of the winter in 2023, China has witnessed multiple pathogens co-circulating and alternating peaks in acute respiratory infectious diseases. The influenza epidemic is experiencing significant fluctuations, while the COVID-19 remains at a low level, with the predominant strains being as XBB and its sublineages. However, the country has seen increasing infections with the JN.1 strain, Lei said.
Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, said that most residents have experienced two or even three COVID-19 infections since December 2022, and the infection experiences can lead individuals to produce neutralizing antibodies against Omicron variants.
The country’s existing experience and medical resources are sufficient to cope with this situation if there is a small rise in JN.1 infections, Lu said.
Authorities have implemented measures to ensure the stability of the epidemic situation during the holidays, including strengthening the prevention and control measures at ports, enhancing epidemic monitoring and early warning, according to Lei.
Officials are required to provide health services and management for key populations such as the elderly and patients with chronic underlying diseases, promoting the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
Authorities will also improve emergency response mechanisms, lift capabilities to ensure timely and effective handling of clustered epidemic outbreaks, Lei noted.
Targeted allocation of medical resources is also needed, including increasing medical resources of key departments while also increasing supply and reserve of common drugs.