Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 60 (28 March 2023)

Abstract

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to 28 March 2023, a cumulative total of approximately 761 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.9 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During the epidemiological week (EW) 12, cases and deaths decreased in all WHO regions except for the region of the Americas (cases; 5.1% & deaths; 11.3%). In the region of the Americas, 267,202 cases and 2,790 deaths were reported in EW 12 – a 5.1% increase in cases and 11.3% increase in deaths compared to the previous week. At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases increased in one subregion - North America (13%). Deaths increased in two subregions - North America (15.6%) and Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands (11.1%). The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 26.1 cases per 100,000 population during EW 12 (24.8 the previous week). Between EW 12 and 11, the 14- day COVID-19 death rate was 5.2 deaths per 1 million population (4.8 the previous two weeks). Among 19 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 5 countries and territories (range: 29% - 100%) during EW 12 compared to the previous week. Among 15 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 2 countries and territories (range: 20% - 100%).