China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) reported on July 30 that the COVID-19 test positivity rate continued to rise during the week of July 20–26, making COVID-19 the most frequently detected respiratory pathogen in the country’s sentinel surveillance system. The positivity rate increased by 4 percentage points from the previous week to 20.3 percent, surpassing influenza at 14.5 percent. The dominant circulating strain remains the NB.1.8.1 lineage.
Over the past three weeks, the COVID-19 positivity rate among outpatients and emergency patients with influenza-like illness has more than doubled, rising from 9.6 percent to 20.3 percent. The report also showed that COVID-19 had the highest positivity rate among children aged 0–4, adults aged 15–59, and those 60 and older. Southern provinces recorded significantly higher positivity rates than northern China.
Reports from medical personnel and social media suggest the outbreak is expanding. A physician in Liaoning reported a recent surge in COVID-19 and influenza cases, while social media users in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shanxi, and Beijing described renewed infections, including household clusters. A physician in Shandong also reported overcrowded emergency departments and severe bed shortages. The full extent of the outbreak remains difficult to assess because China provides only limited public reporting on epidemic data.
Source: Epoch Times, August 2, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/8/1/n14821685.htm