One of China's leading respiratory disease experts has called on authorities to step up prevention and treatment efforts for COVID-19 and influenza, warning that COVID infections remain at a high level across the country.

我国著名呼吸疾病专家近日呼吁加强新冠与流感防控及诊疗工作，警示当前全国范围内新冠病毒感染仍处于较高流行水平。

According to data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the COVID-19 positivity rate among outpatient and emergency influenza-like illness cases nationwide rose from 7.5 percent to 16.2 percent between March 31 and May 4. Among hospitalized cases, the positivity rate increased from 3.3 percent to 6.3 percent over the same period.

中国疾病预防控制中心监测数据显示，3月31日至5月4日期间，全国流感样病例门诊/急诊新冠阳性率从7.5%攀升至16.2%，住院病例阳性率同期由3.3%增至6.3%。

Zhong Nanshan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said individuals who test positive—especially seniors with underlying health conditions—should begin taking medication within the first 48 hours of symptom onset to prevent serious illness.

中国工程院院士钟南山强调，新冠检测阳性者——尤其是有基础疾病的老年患者——应在症状出现48小时内启动药物治疗，以预防重症发生。

"Although the current outbreak of COVID-19 can be controlled, it still poses risks for people over age 65 with preexisting conditions," Zhong said at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Guangzhou Science and Technology Week on Saturday.

“当前新冠疫情虽整体可控，但65岁以上基础疾病患者仍面临风险。”钟南山院士周六在2025广州科技周启动仪式上表示。

"Residents should remain calm," he added, predicting that the latest wave of infections would decline after June.

他预测本轮疫情将于六月后逐步回落，并呼吁“民众应保持冷静”。钟院士同时透露，其科研团队正着力研发专门针对5岁以下儿童的新冠病毒抗体及治疗方案。

Zhong also said his team is working to develop COVID-19 antibodies and treatments specifically for children under age 5.

钟南山院士同时透露，其团队正致力于研发专门针对5岁以下儿童的新冠抗体及治疗方案。

"Research on COVID-19 drugs for this age group remains limited, and there's a lack of safety data," he said. "It is not scientifically sound to assume that drugs approved for older children are also suitable for those as young as 1."

“针对该年龄段的药物研究仍存在空白，安全性数据尤为匮乏。简单套用大龄儿童获批药物的做法，对于小至1岁的幼儿而言缺乏科学依据。”

He urged health authorities to prioritize prevention and treatment for both COVID-19 and influenza, and encouraged older adults to seek prompt care when symptoms arise.

他敦促卫生部门强化新冠与流感的联防联控机制，建议老年群体出现症状后应及时就医。

"Choosing the right medication is also important," he said, noting that two new influenza drugs have recently been launched in China.

“选择合适的药物同样关键。”钟院士特别指出，国内近期已有两款新型流感药物上市。

"China is not lagging behind foreign countries in developing influenza treatments and vaccines," Zhong added.

“我国在流感治疗药物与疫苗研发领域已达到国际先进水平。”

Li Tongzeng, chief physician at the infectious disease department of Beijing YouAn Hospital, said the proportion of severe COVID-19 cases has remained low over the past two to three years.

北京佑安医院感染综合科主任医师李侗曾表示，过去两三年间新冠重症率持续处于低位。

"Most patients recover on their own within a week," he said, though immunocompromised individuals, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses remain at risk of serious complications.

“多数患者一周内可自行康复，但免疫功能低下者、老年群体及慢性病患者仍需警惕重症风险。”

No new symptoms have been identified recently, Li said. Fever, sore throat, cough and muscle aches remain the most common, while a small number of patients may experience a loss of taste or smell.

他指出，近期未发现新的临床症状，发热、咽痛、咳嗽及肌痛仍为主要症状，少数患者可能出现味觉或嗅觉异常。

Like the influenza virus, he said, COVID-19 continues to mutate.

李侗曾强调，与流感病毒类似，新冠病毒仍在持续变异。

"The greater the difference between the original strain and the current circulating variant, the less protection the body's antibodies can provide," Li said.

他表示：“当前流行变异株与原始毒株的基因差异越大，人体抗体提供的免疫保护效力就越有限。”

He noted that new variants are gradually replacing older ones, and population immunity wanes over time, contributing to several sporadic outbreaks this year.

他解释称，新型变异株正逐步取代旧有病毒株，加之群体免疫水平随时间推移逐步衰减，共同导致了今年多轮散发疫情的出现。

"This suggests that, compared with seasonal or climate factors, the spread of COVID-19 may depend more on how the virus evolves and the level of immunity in the population," he said.

“这说明相较于季节性或气候因素，新冠疫情传播态势更取决于病毒进化方向及人群免疫屏障的强弱程度。”李侗曾认为，这一演变特征提示疫情防控需建立更动态化的应对机制。
 

respiratory disease

呼吸道疾病

influenza

/ˌɪnfluˈenzə/

n. 流感; 流行性感冒

mutate

/mjuːˈteɪt/

v. 变异; (使)突变

variant

/ˈveəriənt/

n. 变种; 变体

vaccines

/ˈvæksiːnz/

n. 疫苗