Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 36 (12 October 2022)

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to October 12, 2022, a cumulative total of approximately 619 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.5 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 40, cases increased in the EMRO (2.6%) while they decreased in the remaining five WHO regions (range: -38.7 - -14.4%). COVID-19 deaths decreased in all WHO regions except for WPRO (1.2%). Globally, approximately 3,013,899 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 40 (October 02, 2022-October 08, 2022) - a -7.4% decrease compared to EW 39 (September 25, 2022- October 01, 2022) (Figure 1). For the same period, 8,785 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -6.1% relative decrease compared the previous week. In the region of the Americas, 388,752 cases and 3,829 deaths were reported in EW 40 - a -14.6% decrease in cases and -3.5% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week. At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases decreased in all four subregions (range: -54.6 - - 11.3%). COVID-19 deaths decreased in three subregions (range: -36.2 - -17.1%) while they increased in the South American subregion (71%). The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 38 cases per 100,000 population during EW 40 (44.5 the previous week). Between EW 40 and 39, the 14- day COVID-19 death rate was 7.6 deaths per 1 million population (7.7 the previous two weeks). Among 30 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 4 countries and territories (range: 1% - 100%) during EW 40 compared to the previous week. Among 21 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 2 countries and territories (range: 3.1% - 14.3%).