Although the coronavirus—which once brought the entire world to a standstill—may no longer be the subject of intense discussion as it once was, the threat has not completely vanished. The risk of new variants emerging through periodic mutations remains a concern. Discussions regarding the coronavirus have intensified in India over the past few days. Reports emerging from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are prompting people to wonder if the days of the pandemic are returning.

According to media reports, fear regarding the virus has resurfaced following two COVID-19-related deaths and the detection of eight active cases in Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, a report published in *Amar Ujala* highlighted that singer and former *Bigg Boss* contestant Jaan Kumar Sanu tested positive for the virus and was hospitalized.

While most infections currently reported in India appear to be mild, health experts are advising the public not to be complacent. A question also arises in people's minds: is the infection linked to China this time as well? Has the virus become active again in China? Approximately 79,000 cases were reported in China during June.

**COVID-19 Cases in Andhra Pradesh**

Before examining the global situation—particularly the conditions in China—it is important to understand the risks within India.

Regarding the cases in Andhra Pradesh, media reports highlight a particularly surprising detail: the infected individuals had received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. One of them had even received a booster dose.

Doctors state that vaccines help reduce the risk of severe illness in the event of an infection. While vaccinated individuals can still contract the virus, the risk of developing severe disease is significantly lower for them. At present, there is no cause for panic or undue concern regarding the virus.

As a precautionary measure, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems should exercise caution in crowded places. Experts believe that COVID has now become endemic, yet the possibility of new variants emerging always remains. Therefore, surveillance, timely testing, and preventive measures continue to be crucial.

Is the threat of COVID rising again in China?

COVID-19 remains a topic of global discussion. Recently, China has also seen an increase in the number of people testing positive for the virus. Despite this, experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that the COVID-19 outbreak in the country remains at a low level. So far, no new viral variant has been detected that poses a greater health risk than previous ones.

According to data released by the Chinese CDC on July 8, approximately 79,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded across 31 provincial regions in China between June 1 and June 30.
Among these cases, 130 patients were in serious condition. There was one fatality involving an individual who had a pre-existing serious medical condition and contracted the COVID-19 infection.

The data indicates an overall upward trend in COVID-19 cases during June.

Chang Zhaorui, a researcher at the Chinese CDC's Infectious Disease Department, stated on Thursday that COVID-19 activity in China had remained very low for eight and a half consecutive months starting from October 2025. Although cases began to rise in late May 2026, the increase reached only a limited level of outbreak by mid-June; in other words, while infections did rise, it did not escalate into a large-scale wave of transmission.

Currently, the NB.1.8.1 variant is the most prevalent strain circulating in China.

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