New SARS-CoV-2 Variant PQ.16.1.1 is Driving a Worrisome COVID-19 Surge Across China
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 22, 2026 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
Medical News: China is once again confronting a significant rise in COVID-19 infections, with official data showing a sharp increase in cases during June. Health experts are increasingly concerned that the rapidly expanding SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineage PQ.16.1.1 is now fueling a fresh wave of infections across the country, while questions continue to surround the true scale of the outbreak amid longstanding concerns over the transparency of official reporting. This
Medical News report examines the latest figures, the emerging variant, and the growing warnings from scientists and frontline medical professionals.
New Omicron subvariant PQ.16.1.1 is rapidly driving a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections across China as experts warn of
growing regional risks
Sharp Rise in Cases Raises Fresh Concerns
According to figures released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on July 8, China recorded approximately 79,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections during June. Among these cases, authorities acknowledged 130 severe infections and one death involving both COVID-19 and underlying medical conditions.
The published official figures show an increase that represents a dramatic jump from May, when authorities reported 21,861 confirmed cases, 35 severe cases, and one death.
https://www.chinacdc.cn/jksj/xgbdyq/202607/t20260708_1837916.html
https://www.chinacdc.cn/jksj/xgbdyq/
While the official figures indicate a rapidly expanding outbreak, many observers believe they likely underestimate the true magnitude of transmission, hospitalizations, and fatalities across the country. Many local doctors are disputing these figures in the published official report as the true number of severe cases and deaths are far much higher.
Genome sequencing data released by Chinese authorities showed that all sequenced June infections belonged to the Omicron family, with NB.1.8.1 and its descendant lineages dominating circulation. However, multiple experts indicate that PQ.16.1.1, a newly emerging descendant of NB.1.8.1, has now become the predominant circulating strain in many regions.
Reports from medical sources suggest the outbreak is particularly severe across northern Chinese provinces, where infections have reportedly continued rising exponentially during the first half of July.
Surveillance Data Shows COVID-19 Returning as a Major Respiratory Threat
National surveillance data covering June 29 to July 5 identified influenza virus as the leading respiratory pathogen, accounting for 11.6 percent of infections. SARS-CoV-2 followed closely at 9.6 percent, while enteroviruses represented 9.1 percent.
These findings indicate that COVID-19 has once again become one of China's leading infectious respiratory diseases despite reduced public a
ttention and declining global testing.
The official statistics also triggered widespread discussion on Chinese social media. Numerous users questioned whether only one COVID-related death nationwide could realistically reflect conditions experienced in hospitals and communities.
One well-known talk show host publicly questioned whether authorities were ignoring the longer-term health consequences associated with COVID-19, including chronic fatigue, immune dysfunction, persistent cough, cardiovascular complications, diabetes, kidney injury, autonomic nervous system disorders, anxiety, depression, allergies, and tachycardia.
A prominent Chinese health influencer with nearly two million followers also urged the public not to dismiss the virus, noting that many individuals continue struggling to differentiate COVID-19 from influenza or the common cold despite the ongoing circulation of SARS-CoV-2.
PQ.16.1.1 Emerges as the Variant of Greatest Concern
Medical professionals working inside China's disease control system have highlighted PQ.16.1.1 as the variant deserving the closest scrutiny.
According to a physician who spoke anonymously because of concerns over potential repercussions, COVID-19 infections have quadrupled recently in several regions. He warned that PQ.16.1.1 presents unique dangers because repeated infections accumulated over several years may have left many individuals increasingly vulnerable.
Public genomic surveillance indicates PQ.16.1.1 emerged during early 2026 as a highly mutated Omicron descendant originating from NB.1.8.1. The lineage is now spreading rapidly across mainland China and parts of Southeast Asia while carrying multiple spike protein mutations that may enhance transmission and immune escape.
Experts explained that while mortality following an initial COVID-19 infection with PQ.16.1.1 may remain below one percent, individuals who have already experienced three or more previous COVID-19 infections may face substantially greater risks of severe illness or death during subsequent infections.
Experts Warn Viral Evolution Continues Unchecked
Researchers monitoring SARS-CoV-2 evolution have also identified several additional emerging lineages, including RF.5, RV.1, RE.1.1.5, PQ.16.1.1, and related descendants.
Some of the newer RF.5 sublineages are monitored as they are believed to be driving diseases severity as seen in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-sub-lineage-of-sars-cov-2-rf-5-variant-possibly-behind-4-deaths-12-severe-covid-19-cases-in-andhra-pradesh-india
However, these newer sublineages cannot be transmitted easily but should they gain the right mutations and have a faster growth and transmission rate, we could end up in a global surge that is far worse than what was seen with the Delta variant.
Experts warn these variants are receiving insufficient international attention because routine testing, sequencing, and surveillance have declined significantly worldwide. As a result, potentially important evolutionary developments may remain largely unnoticed until substantial outbreaks occur.
Some specialists believe newer variants may be gradually evolving greater affinity for nervous system and gastrointestinal tissues rather than remaining confined primarily to the respiratory tract.
Medical experts advise individuals experiencing sudden unexplained fatigue, persistent or unusual headaches, digestive disturbances, appetite loss, or brief flu-like illnesses to seek medical evaluation and appropriate viral testing rather than assuming these symptoms represent ordinary seasonal infections.
Concerns Extend Beyond COVID-19 Alone
Experts are warning that healthcare providers in mainland China should remain vigilant for several additional infectious diseases currently circulating alongside COVID-19, including diphtheria, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, norovirus, and measles.
Coinfections involving SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens may substantially increase clinical severity.
Experts explained that COVID-19 can damage respiratory epithelial tissues, making patients more susceptible to bacterial infections and toxin-mediated diseases such as diphtheria. Simultaneous inflammatory responses may significantly elevate risks of lung injury, myocarditis, neurological complications, and delayed diagnosis because overlapping symptoms complicate clinical assessment.
They cautioned that combined respiratory and immune stress resulting from COVID-19 alongside diphtheria-associated airway obstruction, cardiac inflammation, and neurotoxicity should be regarded as a potential medical emergency requiring prompt medical intervention rather than routine home monitoring.
Taiwan and Japan also Reports Rising COVID-19 Activity
The regional trend is not limited to mainland China. Taiwan also reported increasing COVID-19 activity during the week beginning July 6, recording 2,811 new infections, including 17 severe cases, although no deaths were reported during that reporting period.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/taiwan-reports-more-than-2,000-outpatient-and-er-visits-last-week-due-to-covid-19
Japan is also witnessing a high COVID-19 surge with hospitals starting to be overwhelmed once again.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/japan-records-5482-new-covid-19-infections-for-week-27
Thailand Becoming the New COVID-19 Hub of the World
Thailand is also reporting a constant rise in COVID-19 infections in the last few weeks but what is interesting is that literally every strain or sub-lineage of SARS-CoV-2 can be found in circulation. This is perhaps due to Thailand being a tourism destination with little or no health screening at its airports.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-cases-continue-to-rise-across-thailand-with-6633-new-confirmed-cases-and-257-hospitalizations-in-the-last-7-days
The simultaneous increases across neighboring regions suggest that newer SARS-CoV-2 variants, including PQ.16.1.1, may be contributing to broader regional transmission throughout East Asia.
The growing spread of PQ.16.1.1 serves as another reminder that SARS-CoV-2 continues evolving despite reduced public attention. Although official Chinese figures report relatively few severe cases and fatalities, many experts remain skeptical given previous concerns regarding underreporting and the country's history of inconsistent pandemic data. Combined with reports from frontline medical personnel, expanding genomic surveillance, repeated infections within the population, and the emergence of multiple new Omicron descendants, the available evidence suggests that careful monitoring remains essential. Continued viral evolution, possible increases in neurological and gastrointestinal involvement, and the growing risk of coinfections emphasize that COVID-19 remains a dynamic public health challenge requiring sustained surveillance, transparent reporting, rapid genomic sequencing, and timely medical evaluation for individuals developing concerning symptoms.
For the latest COVID-19 news, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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