Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 37 (18 October 2022)

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to October 18, 2022, a cumulative total of approximately 622 million COVID-19 cases including 6.5 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 41, cases decreased in five WHO regions while they increased in WPRO (10.8%). Similarly, COVID-19 deaths decreased in five WHO regions while they increased in AFRO (144%). Globally, approximately 3,085,313 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 41 (October 09, 2022-October 15, 2022) - a -2.1% decrease compared to EW 40 (October 02, 2022- October 08, 2022) (Figure 1). For the same period, 8,512 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -15.7% relative decrease compared the previous week. In the region of the Americas, 349,781 cases and 3,218 deaths were reported in EW 41 - a -11.8% decrease in cases and -19.4% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week. At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases decreased in all four subregions (range: -24.2 - - 10.2% decrease). Similarly, COVID-19 deaths decreased in three subregions (range: -44 - - 10% decrease) while they remained the same in one subregion – Central American subregion. The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 34.2 cases per 100,000 population during EW 41 (38.8 the previous week). Between EW 41 and 40, the 14- day COVID-19 death rate was 7.1 deaths per 1 million population (7.8 the previous two weeks). Among 28 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 3 countries and territories (range: 9.7% - 125%) during EW 41 compared to the previous week. Among 19 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 2 countries and territories (range: 33.3% - 100%).