Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 39 (1 November 2022)

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to November 01, 2022, a cumulative total of 627.6 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.6 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 43, cases decreased in four regions while they increased in WPRO (4.8%) and AMRO (4.8%). COVID-19 deaths increased in four regions (range: 17.8 – 154.5%) while they decreased in EMRO (-14.7%) and EURO (-28.9%).

Globally, approximately 2,425,190 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 43 (October 23, 2022-October 29, 2022) - a -15.6% decrease compared to EW 42 (October 16, 2022-October 22, 2022) (Figure 1). For the same period, 9,463 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -3.2% relative decrease compared the previous week.

In the region of the Americas, 388,097 cases and 4,340 deaths were reported in EW 43 - a 4.8% increase in cases and 23.1% increase in deaths compared to the previous week.

At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases increased in all subregions (range: 1.3 - 21.4%) except for the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands subregion (-12.5%). Similarly, deaths increased in North America (21.6) and South America (38.9%) while they decreased in Central America (- 39.6%) and Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands subregion (-18.2%).

The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 38 cases per 100,000 population during EW 43 (36.3 the previous week). Between EW 43 and 42, the 14-day COVID- 19 death rate was 7.7 deaths per 1 million population (6.9 the previous two weeks).

Among 29 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 12 countries and territories (range: 0.7% - 120%) during EW 43 compared to the previous week. Among 22 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 6 countries and territories (range: 3.2% - 100%).