Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 56 (28 February 2023)

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to 28 February 2023, a cumulative total of approximately 758 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.9 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 8, COVID-19 cases and deaths decreased in all six WHO regions.

Globally, approximately 487,864 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 8 (19 February 2023 – 25 February 2023) - a -55.7% decrease compared to EW 7 (12 February 2023 - 18 February 2023) (Figure 1). For the same period, 4,454 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -45.9% relative decrease compared the previous week.

In the region of the Americas, 354,851 cases and 3,758 deaths were reported in EW 8 – a -3.6% decrease in cases and -1.5% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week.

At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases increased in two subregions – North America (3.5%) and Central America (4.6%). Deaths increased in one subregion – South America (89.7%) while they declined in the remaining three subregions (range: -39.5 - -17.1%).

The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 34.7 cases per 100,000 population during EW 8 (36 the previous week). Between EW 8 and 7, the 14-day COVID-19 death rate was 7.4 deaths per 1 million population (8.1 the previous two weeks).

Among 18 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 2 countries and territories (range: 5.4% - 100%) during EW 8 compared to the previous week. Among 16 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 4 countries and territories (range: 18.2% - 100%).