The Department of Health (DOH) has reported that it is closely observing a rise in COVID-19 cases across certain parts of Southeast Asia.
While the DOH did not pinpoint specific locations, recent reports have highlighted an increase in COVID-19 cases this year in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.
“The Department of Health is carefully tracking regional COVID-19 developments, including the recent surge in certain Southeast Asian areas. We continue to collaborate through established platforms such as ASEAN,” the agency said in a statement.
Despite these developments, the DOH emphasized there is no reason for public alarm.
In the Philippines, data shows a significant drop in COVID-19 activity, with an 87% decrease in both cases and deaths compared to 2024. As of this year, only 1,774 cases have been reported, down from 14,074 last year.
“The case fatality rate remains low at 1.13%, and trends suggest a continued decline in infections over the past month,” the DOH noted. “Weekly cases fell from 71 between March 23 and April 5, 2025, to 65 between April 6 and 19.”
Nonetheless, the agency continues to urge the public to follow basic health precautions that also protect against other respiratory illnesses:
1. Wearing face masks in medical facilities
2. Staying at home when experiencing symptoms
3. Covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
4. Washing hands frequently with soap and water
5. Seeking early medical advice when feeling unwell
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded over 777 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than seven million deaths since the virus first emerged in December 2019.
The pandemic overwhelmed healthcare systems, disrupted economies, and led to widespread lockdowns across the globe.
However, by the latter half of 2022, both infection and mortality rates had dropped significantly—thanks to rising immunity from vaccines and previous infections, along with the virus evolving to cause less severe illness.
In May 2023, the WHO officially declared the pandemic’s emergency phase over.
Experts now consider the virus to be endemic, with occasional resurgences resembling those of seasonal influenza.