Sun May 18 10:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:

**China CDC Reports Rise in COVID-19 Positivity Among Respiratory Illness Cases**

**Beijing, China** – A recent report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), released on May 8th, reveals an increasing trend in COVID-19 positivity rates among acute respiratory illness cases across China. The data, covering the period from March 31st to May 4th, 2024, indicates a significant surge in the prevalence of the virus.

According to the report, the COVID-19 positivity rate in influenza-like illness cases presenting at outpatient and emergency departments more than doubled, climbing from 7.5% to 16.2%. Similarly, among hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infections, the positivity rate rose from 3.3% to 6.3%.

The report notes regional variations, with Southern provinces exhibiting a slightly higher COVID-19 positivity rate compared to Northern provinces. This difference may be attributed to factors such as climate, population density, and patterns of population movement specific to the South. The China CDC report identifies the following as Southern provinces: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan. Northern provinces include: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shandong, Henan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

The data suggests that the rate of increase may be starting to level off in some provinces where the surge began earlier.

While COVID-19 remains a key concern, the China CDC’s surveillance also detected the presence of other respiratory viruses, including Rhinovirus, Parainfluenza virus, Enterovirus, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Rhinovirus positivity rates have remained relatively stable, primarily affecting children aged 14 and under. This trend is likely due to the developing immune systems of children, making them more susceptible to infection. Positivity rates for Parainfluenza virus and RSV are decreasing overall. However, these viruses continue to show high positivity rates in the 0-4 age group.

The China CDC continues to monitor respiratory disease trends across the country and provide updates as the situation evolves.

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