Global COVID-19 cases per week stabilize despite omicron alert

The world registered 3.8 million new cases of COVID-19 last week, almost the same number as in the previous seven days, after more than a month of weekly increases and despite the global alert generated by the discovery of the omicron variant, potentially more contagious.

According to the epidemiological report published today by the World Health Organization (WHO), at a global level new cases have stabilized, although by region the enormous increase (93%, almost double) in new infections in Africa stands out, the region where the first cases of omicron were detected.

However, in absolute figures, the African continent continues to be the one with the fewest weekly cases, with 43,000 last week, compared to 2.6 million in Europe (7% more than the previous week) or 659,000 in America (a decrease of 24%).

The report also reflects a notable 10% decline in global COVID deaths last week, to a total of 47,000.

More than half were registered in Europe, with 29,000 deaths and a decrease of 2%, while in America the drop was 36% (9,300 deaths) and in South Asia there was a 26% rise to 3,500 deaths.

Africa, one of the regions of greatest concern today, saw deaths rise by 7%, although its absolute figures are still much lower than in the rest of the areas (525 deaths between 20 and 26 November).

By country, the United States remained as the one that registered the most cases (464,000 last week, a decrease of 31%) followed by Germany (406,000, 22%) and the United Kingdom (304,000, an 8% more).

In the accumulated since the start of the pandemic, at least 261 million people were infected with COVID-19 and 5.2 million died.

In the global vaccination campaign, 8,000 million doses have been administered, so that 54% of the world population has received at least one, although in low-income countries that percentage drops to 6%. (I)