Covid-19 rebound on cards? Chinese authorities issue big warning amid national holiday season as China expects rise in cases of respiratory diseases

As China celebrates the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday beginning on October 1 and ending on October 8, 2025, authorities in the country have warned of the risks of a rebound in COVID-19 cases and accelerated transmission of other respiratory diseases due to heavy movement and large gatherings.

The State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism issued a notice on Friday, September 26, 2025, saying that while COVID-19 is currently circulating at a low level, the emergence of new variants could potentially trigger new waves of infection, according to China Daily.

Pathogens such as influenza viruses, common coronaviruses, and respiratory syncytial viruses are expected to become more active as autumn and winter progress. This can likely lead to alternating or co-circulation of multiple respiratory illnesses.


During these seasons, the spread of intestinal infections like norovirus gastroenteritis and hand, foot, and mouth disease is also at its peak, which leads to an increasing chance of outbreaks in schools, daycare centers, and dining areas, China Daily reported.

The eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday can also witness the importation of cases of diseases such as monkeypox, malaria, and measles, which remains a concern.

Authorities to activate provincial-level monitoring and emergency response

In view of the increased population movement and gatherings expected during the holiday season, the notice urged local authorities to activate provincial-level monitoring, surveillance, and emergency response platforms for infectious diseases.

According to China Daily, authorities have also asserted that there is a need to strengthen health quarantine measures at ports of entry and enhance guidance and supervision of key venues, including schools, childcare institutions, nursing homes, and cultural and tourist sites.

All the regions where major infectious disease outbreaks are being witnessed are instructed to strictly implement control measures to curb transmission at an early stage. The notice also called for carrying out emergency drills to improve preparedness and public health response capabilities, as well as intensifying public health education efforts.