Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 57 (7 March 2023)

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to 07 March 2023, a cumulative total of approximately 758.7 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.9 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 9, both cases and deaths decreased in all regions. In the region of the Americas, 340,487 cases and 3,005 deaths were reported in EW 9 – a -4.9% decrease in cases and -20.5% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week. At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases increased in two subregions – South America (49.8%) and Central America (5.6%). Deaths increased in two subregions – Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands (53.8%) and Central America (10.3%). The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 33.3 cases per 100,000 population during EW 9 (35 the previous week). Between EW 9 and 8, the 14-day COVID-19 death rate was 6.6 deaths per 1 million population (7.4 the previous two weeks). Among 18 countries and territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 8 countries and territories (range: 2.1% - 68.4%) during EW 9 compared to the previous week. Among 15 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 4 countries and territories (range: 3.8% - 100%).