Do you remember COVID-19? The lockdowns, the masks, the virus that rewrote normal. But here is the truth we do not like to face—COVID did not vanish. And now, it is peeking out again. In Southeast Asia, the case of the COVID-19 pandemic is rising, and Kerala reported 273 COVID-19 cases in May 2025. The Health Minister, Veena George, has asked all districts in the state to increase the monitoring of the COVID-19 pandemic and advised people to wear masks.
Is COVID back in Kerala?
In May 2025, Kerala reported 273 new COVID-19 pandemic cases. Among this number, 82 cases are in Kottayam, 73 in Thiruvananthapuram, 26 in Thrissur and 49 in Ernakulam. However, these figures are modest compared to previous waves.
Veena George has urged all the districts of the state to increase the surveillance efforts. She said, “The public must remain vigilant. Cases are rising in other countries, and we need to be prepared.” She asked to use masks, do self-care and early reporting of the symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat and difficulty in breathing.
The vulnerable groups to the COVID-19 pandemic are the elderly people, pregnant women and chronically ill people. These groups have been asked to avoid crowded places and always wear masks while travelling or in public places.
At the start of May, the COVID-19 cases were 182 and within weeks, it increased to 273. This creates concerns among the public of the state. Hence, it can be said that COVID is making a subtle return in Kerala. However, it is not a fully blown crisis.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: On COVID-19, Kerala Health Minister Veena George says, "We are closely monitoring the situation. When we noticed a rise in global COVID-19 cases, we held a state-level rapid response meeting chaired by the minister and instructed officials to monitor… pic.twitter.com/ze089Gfrcv
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2025
Why is Southeast Asia seeing a rise again?
Southeast Asia is witnessing a rise in the COVID-19 pandemic in the early months. Countries like Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Thailand reported the rise of cases. In Singapore, a 28% surge in COVID-19 cases has been observed, which rose from 11,100 to 14,200 between the last weeks of April and the first weeks of May.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, recorded 31 virus-related deaths in the first week of May. In the first and second week of May, the cases rose from 972 to 1,042. Thailand reported more than 71,000 cases and 19 deaths between January to Mid-May.
However, there are several reasons behind the rise of cases in Southeast Asia. The transmissibility in the Omicron subvariants like JN.1 and its descendants LF.7 and NB.1.8 has increased. The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic cases is closely linked with this, which increased the cases from 11,100 to 14.200 in Singapore within a few weeks.
The spread might be affected by the seasonal weather patterns. The rise of humidity and high fluctuations in temperature facilitate the spread.
Another notable factor of “Covid fatigue” can also be highlighted here. After years of restrictions, many people, including Gen Z, millennials and more, became less aware of the preventive measures of using masks and maintaining social distance. Therefore, the behavioural shift among the people creates such an environment that increases the risks of COVID-19 in different countries of Southeast Asia.
Dr. Harshal R Salve, the Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIM, New Delhi, said that, “Rising COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia are attributed to seasonal trends of flu cases. Most of the cases are mild and do not need any hospitalisation.”
What is the response?
Let’s zoom in on the response taken by the Health Minister of Kerala. Veena George has said that people with symptoms of throat pain, cough, cold and breathing issues must have to wear masks. Pregnant ladies, children and aged citizens also need to wear masks for precaution. In the hospital setting, the healthcare workers need to wear masks mandatorily to avoid the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The district medical and surveillance officers asked to ensure the availability of the RT-PCR testing kits for all people. It has also been ensured that all the essential safety equipment in the healthcare facilities is available for everyone.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan said that, “Covid-19 is a cyclical disease, which means that cases will rise every few months. The intervals can range from six to nine months. As with other Asian countries, we are seeing COVID-19 cases in India too. But they are not overwhelming hospitals and are no more severe than they used to be. In fact, most cases are so mild, they are being treated as outpatients.”
The Health officials of India have also confirmed that the surveillance system of the country remains robust to handle the rise in concerns. It is also supported by the IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme) and ICMR. The respiratory and chronic illnesses, including COVID-19, have been monitored and handled by these systems.
The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has also granted the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine of Novavax. This vaccine can be used for people who are aged 65+. However, this vaccine can reduce the risks of rising concerns about COVID.
However, Kerala has also taken steps to use the digital health tools. Different digital platforms like eSanjeevani and Aarogya Setu are helping the state to reduce hospital crowding. The teleconsultations of this digital platform allow people to receive medical guidance remotely.
The use of Digital tools by Kerala
Kerala is known as the first digital state of India. This state has significantly used digital tools to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and set a benchmark in integrating these tools in the public health response.
The state has 95% mobile phone penetration, 75% digital literacy and 62% smartphone usage. The Government of Kerala launched the GoK Direct app to provide the real-time COVID-19 pandemic updates, guidelines and health advisors.
The Aarogya Setu app has been used to monitor the rising risks of the virus and track the contacts. This app ensures early detection of the virus and isolation. The telemedicine service of the state has been expanded through eSanjeevani. Now, people of the state can avail the service of remote consultations and medical support, while ensuring social distancing.
The future scope of this approach of Kerala’s government can be further enhanced by integrating AI for predictive analytics and expanding the telehealth services in remote areas. Continuous investment in digital tools and infrastructure can help Kerala become a global leader in digital health innovation.
Social Media Influence
After the pandemic, the usage of social media increased. As of 2025, the internet users crossed more than 800 million. In Kerala, around 4.8 million people actively use Facebook daily, where the digital literacy percentage is 75%. Hence, social media can be used as an active tool to respond faster to address the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kerala can use this advantage to create campaigns to encourage people to wear masks and maintain personal safety. #MaskForMuthassi, #MaskUpKerala and #KeralaCares can be some beneficial hashtags which can be used to run some effective campaigns and spread awareness about the concerns.
Social media influencers can also play a significant role in spreading awareness of mask-wearing. They can post pictures by wearing masks and use the hashtags to humanise the message. The people who are deeply connected with the influencers might be influenced by them and take steps to stay safe in these concerning situations.
