Singapore sees rise in COVID-19 cases as authorities say ‘periodic’ waves are expected

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s health authorities are monitoring a recent increase in COVID-19 cases, even as they expect periodic waves of infection throughout the year.

The estimated number of COVID-19 cases rose to 14,200 in the week of Apr 27 to May 3, up from 11,100 cases in the previous week.

“Over the same period, the average daily COVID-19 hospitalisations rose from 102 to 133, but the average daily intensive care unit cases decreased from three to two cases,” the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said in a media release on Tuesday (May 13).

Authorities added that Singapore’s hospitals are currently able to manage the increase in cases.

“As with other endemic respiratory diseases, periodic COVID-19 waves are expected throughout the year,” they said.

Currently, the main COVID-19 variants circulating in Singapore are LF.7 and NB.1.8, accounting for more than two-thirds of locally sequenced cases. 

Both variants are descendants of the JN.1 variant, which is also the variant used in the formulation of the current COVID-19 vaccine. 

“There is no indication that the variants circulating locally are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to previously circulating variants,” said MOH and the CDA.