China on Alert: Potential COVID-19 Rebound Looms, Health Authorities Urge Vigilance Amid Decline in Fever Clinic Cases

As fever clinic cases decline in China, health authorities raise concerns about a possible COVID-19 rebound in January. Monitoring the JN.1 variant and emphasizing the need for vaccination, experts urge vigilance during the winter and Spring Festival, stressing early intervention and strengthened monitoring to curb the spread of respiratory diseases.

Chinese health authorities have sounded a warning about a potential rebound in the COVID-19 infection epidemic in January, despite a recent decline in cases reported at fever clinics in medical institutions. The National Health Commission spokesperson, Mi Feng, highlighted the fluctuating downward trend in patients received at fever clinics across China but emphasized the possibility of a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.

Monitoring and Variants
Wang Dayan, director of the China National Influenza Center, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, shared recent data indicating a positive rate below one percent for COVID-19 virus testing in sentinel hospitals. However, the JN.1 variant strain has shown an upward trend. Experts predict a continuation of various respiratory pathogens co-circulating in the winter and spring, with influenza viruses dominating in the short term.

Rebound Concerns and Vaccination Emphasis
Due to the continuous importation of the JN.1 variant strain, a gradual decline in domestic influenza, and a decrease in population immunity, the risk of a COVID-19 epidemic rebound in January is heightened. Experts anticipate the JN.1 variant to become the dominant strain in China.

Wang Guiqiang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Peking University First Hospital, stressed the peak season for respiratory infectious diseases in winter, highlighting the need for early intervention and diagnosis. He emphasized the importance of influenza vaccination, particularly for high-risk individuals, to prevent infections and worsening conditions.

Vigilance and Strengthened Measures
As the winter vacation and Spring Festival approach, health authorities urge strengthened monitoring and early warning systems. Large-scale movements and gatherings during these periods may accelerate the spread of respiratory diseases, necessitating heightened vigilance. Mi Feng emphasized the provision of timely health consultation and referral guidance services, especially for vulnerable groups, urging active allocation of medical resources and optimization of treatment processes.

As China navigates potential challenges in the coming months, proactive measures and public cooperation remain crucial to curbing the spread of respiratory diseases and mitigating the risk of a COVID-19 resurgence. Stay tuned for updates on China’s efforts to manage the evolving situation.