April 7, 2025 – A five-year-old boy is currently battling severe complications from a COVID-19 infection in Hong Kong. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has reported that the child, who has underlying health issues, was admitted to Tseung Kwan O Hospital on April 4 after showing alarming symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. As his health worsened, he was subsequently transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at United Christian Hospital, where his condition has been classified as critical.

Significantly, the boy has not completed his COVID-19 vaccination schedule and lacks any recent travel history that could explain his infection. In a related note, his school has not documented any COVID-19 outbreaks, though there was a recent incident involving a close household contact seeking medical care for a cough.

Dr. Edwin Tsui, Controller of the CHP, has voiced concerns over a notable surge in COVID-19 activity within the community over the past three weeks. This increase is underscored by recent surveillance findings, which revealed a jump in the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in local sewage systems, with levels measured at approximately 330,000 copies per litre as of March 29, a sharp rise from 85,000 two weeks earlier.

Dr. Tsui has stressed the urgency for high-risk individuals to receive timely booster shots to cut down on the chances of severe illness and fatalities linked to COVID-19. Current genetic studies identify the dominant strains in the region as JN.1 and its variants, which remain susceptible to existing vaccines. He strongly urged all eligible individuals—especially unvaccinated children and infants—to get vaccinated swiftly.

This troubling incident highlights the importance of adhering to safety protocols and staying up-to-date with vaccinations amidst an unsettling resurgence of the virus. As the community grapples with these latest developments, public health officials reiterate the critical nature of protection measures for everyone, particularly those most vulnerable to severe COVID-19 outcomes.