China CDC (July 16) notes rising COVID positivity, but low transmission with NB.1.8.1. Travelers: practice hygiene in summer and flood.
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Source: OT-Team(G), 北京日报
China's overall respiratory infectious disease activity remains at a low level, with COVID-19 continuing to circulate at low levels nationwide, officials said at a press conference held by the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA) on July 16.
Chang Zhaorui, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), said COVID-19 has remained at a low transmission level in China for the past eight and a half months, dating back to October 2025, with relatively low viral activity. Although infections increased in late May this year, transmission returned to a low level by mid-June.
Recent surveillance has shown a rise in the national COVID-19 test positivity rate, indicating an upward trend in infections. However, Chang emphasized that overall transmission remains at a low level.
The NB.1.8.1 lineage remains the dominant circulating variant in China. Current surveillance has not identified any new variant that poses an additional public health risk.
According to Chang, COVID-19 has now evolved into a common respiratory infectious disease, and the public should not be overly concerned about routine fluctuations in case numbers.
Officials also warned that the risk of vector-borne infectious diseases has increased with the arrival of the summer travel season. Greater cross-regional travel and the possibility of imported cases have raised the risk of local transmission, while some southern provinces face the potential for clustered outbreaks of diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya.
Nationwide, respiratory infectious diseases remain at generally low levels, although rhinoviruses and parainfluenza viruses continue to show some activity alongside COVID-19.
Authorities also noted that China has entered the peak flood-control period, when heavy rainfall and flooding are more likely in many regions. Flood-related disruptions to environmental sanitation, food safety, and drinking water supplies, as well as changes in the habitats and behavior of disease vectors and animal hosts, could increase the risk of outbreaks of intestinal, respiratory, and vector-borne infectious diseases in affected areas.
Health officials advised the public to maintain good personal hygiene during the busy summer travel season, including frequent handwashing, practicing proper cough etiquette, and ensuring adequate indoor ventilation. People experiencing respiratory symptoms such as fever or cough are encouraged to monitor their health, seek medical attention promptly if necessary, and follow medical advice on treatment, while taking appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of transmission.
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