Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 55 (22 February 2023)

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to 22 February 2023, a cumulative total of about 757 million COVID- 19 cases including about 6.9 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 7, cases decreased in four regions while they increased in EURO (3.5% increase) and EMRO (25% increase), and deaths decreased in five WHO regions while they increased in EMRO (9.4% increase).

Globally, approximately 1,097,189 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 7 (12 February 2023 – 18 February 2023) - a -12.4% decrease compared to EW 6 (05 February 2023 - 11 February 2023) (Figure 1). For the same period, 8,187 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -20.3% relative decrease compared the previous week.

In the region of the Americas, 364,432 cases and 3,775 deaths were reported in EW 7 – a -8.8% decrease in cases and -16.2% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week.

At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases and deaths decreased in all four subregions.

The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 35.6 cases per 100,000 population during EW 7 (39.1 the previous week). Between EW 7 and 6, the 14-day COVID-19 death rate was 8.1 deaths per 1 million population (9.4 in the previous two weeks).

Among 19 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 6 countries and territories (range: 0.3% - 100%) during EW 7 compared to the previous week. Among 15 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 2 countries and territories (range: 12.8% - 100%).