Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 3 (22 February 2022)

Abstract

[Executive Summary]. Globally, COVID-19 cases decreased for the third consecutive week with 12.8 million new cases reported in epidemiological week (EW) 7 (13 – 19 February 2022) – a 21.3% decrease compared to the previous week (Figure 1). The decrease in cases was observed across most WHO regions except for the Western Pacific Region (28.8% increase). Deaths also declined globally for the first time in weeks since the acceleration in EW 52 of 2021 (Figure 1). About 67,645 new deaths were reported in EW 7 representing a decline of 8.3% compared to the previous week. Except for the African (19.6% increase) and WPRO (21.4% increase) regions, weekly deaths declined in the rest of the four WHO regions. In the Region of the Americas, the overall epidemiological situation during EW 7 (13 – 19 February 2022) was characterized by a continued decline in cases and deaths across all four subregions. A total of 2.2 million new cases including approximately 29,000 deaths were reported in the Region during EW 7, representing a decline of 28.7% and 8.9% respectively compared to the previous week. Among countries/territories with available data, overall weekly number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and/or ICU admissions also appear to be abating except for a few countries like Chile and Costa Rica where both trends continue to accelerate. ICU admissions in particular continue to increase in some countries of the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean islands (Jamacia, Guadeloupe, Grenada), Central America (Honduras), and South America (Uruguay). No new countries/territories identified a variant of concern (VOC) during EW 7. The SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) Omicron has been detected in 48 countries and territories of the region of date.