Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 42 (22 November 2022) 

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to November 22, 2022, a cumulative total of approximately 635.2 million COVID-19 cases including over 6.6 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 46, cases decreased in four regions while they increased in AMRO (4%) and SEARO (7.9%). COVID-19 deaths decreased in three regions while they increased in WPRO (1.3%), SEARO (13%), and AFRO (123.5%). Globally, approximately 2,500,612 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 46 (November 13, 2022-November 19, 2022) - a -2.4% decrease compared to EW 45 (November 06, 2022- November 12, 2022) (Figure 1). For the same period, 7,910 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -11.9% relative decrease compared the previous week. In the region of the Americas, 457,718 cases and 3,066 deaths were reported in EW 46 - a 4.0% increase in cases and -10.6% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week. At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases increased in all subregions (range: 8.5 – 30.3%) except for the North American subregion (-5%). COVID-19 Deaths increased in the Central American subregion (18.8%), while they decreased in the remaining three subregions (range: -57.5 - -7%). The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 44.8 cases per 100,000 population during EW 46 (43 the previous week). Between EW 46 and 45, the 14-day COVID-19 death rate was 6.4 deaths per 1 million population (6.7 the previous two weeks). Among 22 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 10 countries and territories (range: 1% - 100%) during EW 46 compared to the previous week. Among 15 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 9 countries and territories (range: 1.5% - 200%).