Hong Kong Detects More SARS-CoV-2 Than Past 52 Weeks

The latest surveillance data (Week #19) from Hong Kong showed that the overall local activity of COVID-19 has continued to increase, with some surveillance indicators having surpassed their highest levels in the past year. 

In week 19, the weekly number of newly recorded positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections for the SARS-CoV-2 virus was 1,042, compared to 972 in the preceding week.

And COVID-19 outbreaks occurring in schools/institutions affected 52 people last week.

Furthermore, since January 2023 and May 10, 2025, the cumulative number of fatal cases with cause of death preliminarily assessed to be related to COVID-19 was 1,437.

As of May 14, 2025, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has been closely monitoring the local prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the neighboring regions of Hong Kong, including Singapore.

Sewage surveillance data showed an increasing trend in the prevalence of XDV in Hong Kong. XDV is a JN.1-related variant.

The latest information does not suggest that XDV will cause a more severe disease than JN.1, XBB, and their descendant lineages.

The public (and visitors) are advised to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to protect themselves against infection and prevent the spread of the disease. 

Additionally, public members are advised to note the latest recommendations on using COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong. High-risk priority groups are recommended to receive a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least six months since the last dose or infection, regardless of the number of doses received previously. For more details, please visit this CHP link.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China on the southern coast. Recent data indicates over 40 million people visited Hong Kong last year.

If you depart from the United States, the CDC writes, ' Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine and travel vaccines, such as chikungunya and typhoid, before visiting Hong Kong in May 2025.'