While neighboring countries Singapore and Hong Kong have confirmed surges in COVID-19 cases in May 2025, Malaysia's Health Ministry recently reported that the situation remains below the alert level.
As of May 20, 2025, the Health Ministry's website reported that over 11,000 COVID-19-19 cases have been recorded this year, with a continuous downward trend since the start of 2025.
COVID-19-related hospital admissions in Malaysia have decreased in the past few weeks, with a 7-day average of 37 admissions compared to 45 in late April 2025.
This positive news compares with Singapore's 28% increase in COVID-19 cases in early May 2025.
The WHO's Bi-weekly COVID-19 Situation Update, published on May 9, 2025, revealed that eight countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region reported a COVID-19 positivity rate of 8.1%.
And the relative frequency of circulating variants in the Western Pacific Region was JN.1 at 51.3% and B.1.1.529 at 48.3%.
In the United States, the CDC estimates that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely to grow in 2 states, declining or likely declining in 30 states, and not changing in 14 states, as of May 13, 2025.
From a disease prevention perspective, Malaysia, the WHO, and the U.S. CDC recommend that at-risk people speak with a healthcare provider about vaccination options.