Zhong Nanshan, a noted expert on respiratory illness, said his team is now actively developing antibodies to COVID-19, aiming to explore effective treatment methods more suitable for children under 5-years-old in the following months.

"Now the research of COVID-19 drug in this group of people is not sufficient, and it lacks sufficient safety evidence," said Zhong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

"It cannot be arbitrarily inferred that children over 5-years-old can use it, and children as young as 1-year-old are equally applicable," he said.

"Now there is no relevant evidence to support this point of view."

Zhong, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Guangzhou Science and Technology Week on Saturday.

He said the current COVID-19 outbreak is still at its peak period across the country and is predicted to decline after June.

Zhong urged relevant departments to pay great attention to the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and influenza, and the infected individuals to take relevant medicine within the first 48 hours to avoid developing severe symptoms.

Zhong expressed regret that Taiwan actress Barbie Hsu died of influenza in February.

The incidence rate of influenza has recently been declining, he said, adding that patients should attach great importance to the timely treatment of influenza, especially the elderly, he said.

"Certain dangers do exist for senior residents with underlying diseases," he said.

According to monitoring data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from March 31 to May 4, the COVID-19 positivity rate among outpatient and emergency influenza-like cases nationwide increased from 7.5 percent to 16.2 percent, while the positivity rate of hospitalized cases also increased from 3.3 percent to 6.3 percent.

Zhong, head of Guangzhou Laboratory, a key State facility focused on studying respiratory diseases, is the winner of the Medal of the Republic, China's highest honor for outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the country.