Authorities warn of COVID-19 rebound and rise in other respiratory diseases

China's epidemic situation is expected to remain generally stable and under control during the upcoming eight-day holiday and throughout the autumn and winter, but authorities also warn of the risks of a rebound in COVID-19 cases and accelerated transmission of other respiratory diseases.

In a notice issued on Friday, the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism said that while COVID-19 is currently circulating at a low level, the emergence of new variants could potentially trigger new waves of infection.

As autumn and winter progress, pathogens such as influenza viruses, common coronaviruses and respiratory syncytial virus are expected to become more active, likely leading to alternating or co-circulation of multiple respiratory illnesses.

These seasons also represent a peak period for intestinal infectious diseases such as norovirus gastroenteritis and hand, foot, and mouth disease, raising the risk of clustered outbreaks in schools, childcare centers, and dining facilities.

Meanwhile, the importation of cases of diseases such as monkeypox, malaria, and measles remains a concern.

With increased population movement and gatherings expected during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday beginning on October 1, the notice urged local authorities to activate provincial-level monitoring, surveillance, and emergency response platforms for infectious diseases.

It also emphasized the need to strengthen health quarantine measures at ports of entry and enhance guidance and supervision of key venues, including schools, childcare institutions, nursing homes, and cultural and tourist sites.

Regions experiencing major infectious disease outbreaks are instructed to strictly implement control measures to curb transmission at an early stage.

The notice also called for conducting emergency drills to improve preparedness and public health response capabilities, as well as intensifying public health education efforts.