Covid-19 cases in Singapore surge to 12,700; here's the cause

Covid-19 infection cases in Singapore have surged unexpectedly. This periodic cycle has been forecast to occur throughout the year. In a post on the official Instagram account of the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the public health body under the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Singapore, it was revealed that the estimated infection cases for 3-9 May 2026 were around 8,000, with an average daily number of hospitalisations at 56. However, for 10-16 May 2026, infections were estimated to rise to 12,700, with hospitalisations rising to 73 per day on average. The hospitalised cases include an average of one person in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) daily. CDA stressed that the variants circulating locally do not show signs of being more transmissible or causing more severe disease. It stated that the currently circulating variant is NB.1.8.1, a sublineage of JN.1, the variant responsible for at least more than half of transmission cases in Singapore. It added that the Covid-19 vaccine remains effective in protecting against that variant. So, what is the cause of the surge in Covid-19 infections in Singapore? According to the CDA, periodic surges in Covid-19 infections are expected to occur as endemic respiratory illnesses emerge. ‘An increase in cases can occur due to a variety of factors, including waning population immunity,’ the CDA wrote, quoted on Saturday (23 May 2026). Therefore, the CDA urged residents to update their Covid-19 vaccinations, particularly for vulnerable groups such as people aged 60 and over, and for those medically vulnerable, from six months of age upwards. To stay safe, residents should continue to practise transmission-prevention measures, including: - wash hands regularly - cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing - wear a mask if experiencing symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or fever - if unwell, reduce social interactions and non-urgent travel.