Recently, more people seem to be experiencing symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and fever.
The hashtag #COVIDIsBack briefly became a trending topic on social media.
This is not merely a perception — the data provide a clear answer.
In June, 79,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide..
In Hong Kong, 45 severe cases and 7 deaths were reported in the past 4 weeks.
Recently, the China CDC released its COVID-19 surveillance report for June.: from June 1 to 30, 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 79,000 new cases, including 130 severe cases and 1 death. The number of reported cases showed an overall increasing trend.
New confirmed COVID-19 cases in June
According to the national sentinel surveillance for acute respiratory infectious diseases (Week 28 of 2026, July 6–12), the positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 among respiratory samples collected from influenza-like illness (ILI) cases at sentinel hospitals increased to 11.9%.
The situation in Hong Kong is equally concerning. According to reports from the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, the COVID-19 positivity rate rose from below 1% before the end of May to 9.79% recently, reaching a one-year high in SARS-CoV-2 activity. In the past 4 weeks, 45 severe cases and 7 deaths were reported.
Why has the virus "come back" in summer? A major driver is the air-conditioned rooms we take for granted. Although high outdoor temperatures can inhibit viral survival, people keep windows closed and air conditioning on for long periods, leading to severely inadequate indoor air circulation. virus-laden aerosols accumulate– enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces become the "epicenters" of this round of transmission.
Besides opening windows for ventilation, what else can we rely on to help our bodies fight the virus?
Hydrogen-Oxygen Inhalation and COVID-19Ventilation addresses the external environment, but what truly determines the course of infection is our own "immunity – that invisible yet critical internal defense.
Studies have found that after two weeks of high-concentration hydrogen-oxygen inhalation, the number of immune cells in the blood increases significantly. Both NK cells (natural killer cells) and T cells (T lymphocytes) rapidly increase under hydrogen-oxygen inhalation conditions [1].
During the pandemic, hydrogen-oxygen inhalation therapy was included three times in the COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment protocols issued by the National Health Commission
A multi-center, open-label clinical trial initiated by Academician Zhong Nanshan found that: the study group receiving hydrogen-oxygen mixture gas inhalation showed significant differences on day 2, day 3, and at the last treatment session. [2]
Clinical Improvement Assessment (red = hydrogen-oxygen inhalation group)
The improvements in chest pain symptoms, dyspnea rating, cough symptoms, and chest tightness symptoms are shown below:
In 2022, a prospective, multi-center, randomized controlled clinical trial was jointly conducted by leading tertiary hospitals including Ruijin Hospital, Zhongshan Hospital, and Huashan Hospital, involving researchers including Qu Jieming, Zhang Wenhong, Song Yuanlin, and others.
The results showed that, compared with oxygen therapy alone, inhalation of hydrogen-oxygen gas shortened the time to viral clearance, reduced inflammatory cytokine levels, and alleviated pulmonary lesions, thereby reducing the occurrence of early severe cases. This once again confirmed the safety and efficacy of the hydrogen-oxygen nebulizer as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19 [3].
Final Words
This wave of the pandemic is not necessarily caused for panic but it remains a severe test for the elderly, patients with chronic diseases, and immunocompromised individuals. Beyond basic protections such as ventilation and mask-wearing, hydrogen-oxygen inhalation, as an effective adjuvant therapy, offers an additional layer of protection for high-risk groups, giving us more confidence and composure in facing the virus.
