Geneva: Globally, 4.1 million new cases were reported in the past week, a decline of 15% from last week, and the number of new deaths reported was just under 96 000, comparable to the previous week, the latest COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update from World Health Organisation for the week ending January 24, 2021, has revealed. This brings the cumulative numbers to over 98.2 million reported cases and over 2.1 million deaths globally since the start of the pandemic.
However, during the same period, around 96,000 deaths have been reported – a similar number reported as last week. The Americas and Eastern Mediterranean region reported an increase in new deaths by 4% and 3% respectively, whereas Europe, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions showed a decrease in new deaths compared to last week. No change in new deaths was seen for the African region.
All regions reported a decline in new cases except the Western Pacific Region which reported a similar incidence to last week. The largest decrease in new cases was reported in the European Region (by 20%) followed by the African Region (decrease of 16%). The Americas and Europe reported 86% of all new cases globally in the past week.
In the past week, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases continued to be the United States of America (1 259 902 cases, a 20% decrease), Brazil (360 428 cases, a 5% decrease), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (260 098 cases, a 24% decrease), the Russian Federation (151 191 cases, a 9% decrease) and France (138 288 cases, a 10% increase).
In South-East Asia region of the WHO, the three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases and new deaths were India (96 548 new cases; 7 new cases per 100 000, a 10% decrease), Indonesia (80 832 new cases; 29.6 new cases per 100 000; a 3% increase) and Sri Lanka (5274 new cases; 24.6 new cases per 100 000; an 18% increase). The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new deaths this week were Indonesia (1897 new deaths; 0.7 new deaths per 100 000, a 4% increase), India (1065 new deaths; 0.1 new deaths per 100 000, a 17% decrease) and Bangladesh (120 new deaths; 0.1 new deaths per 100 000; a 6% decrease).
In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases continue to be Iran (42 637 new cases, 50.8 new cases per 100 000 population, a 3% decrease), Lebanon (27 429 new cases, 401.9 new cases per 100 000, 18% decrease) and United Arab Emirates (24 568 new cases, 248.4 new cases per 100 000, 11 % increase). These three countries accounted for almost half (55%) of the new weekly cases in the Region. The highest numbers of new deaths were reported in Iran (577 new deaths, 0.7 new death per 100 000 population, 7% decrease) followed by Tunisia (538 new deaths, 4.6 new death per 100 000, 16% increase) and Lebanon (414 new deaths, 6.1 new death per 100 000, a 50% increase). These countries accounted for almost 51% of deaths reported in the Region.
The Western Pacific Region reported a similar number of new cases (over 81 000 cases) and decrease in new deaths by 5% (over 1000) in the past week compared to the previous week. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases this week were Japan (38 365 new cases; 30.3 new cases per 100 000, a 8% decrease), Malaysia (25 360 new cases; 78.4 new cases per 100 000, a 18% increase) and the Philippines (12 988 new cases; 11.9 new cases per 100 000, a 1% increase). The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new deaths this week were Japan (573 new deaths; 0.5 new deaths per 100 000, a 27% increase), the Philippines (306 new deaths; 0.3 new deaths per 100 000, a 37% decrease) and the Republic of Korea (100 new deaths; 0.2 new deaths per 100 000, a 19% decrease).
In the Americas, the highest numbers of new cases were reported from the United States of America (1 259 902 new cases; 380.6 new cases per 100 000 population; a 20% decrease), Brazil (360 428 new cases; 169.6 new cases per 100 000; a 5% decrease) and Mexico (122 555 new cases; 95.1 new cases per 100 000; a 20% increase). The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the same countries, the United States of America (21 583 new deaths; 6.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 7% decrease), Mexico (8592 new deaths; 6.7 new deaths per 100 000; a 24% increase) and Brazil (6997 new deaths; 3.3 new deaths per 100 000; a 3% increase).
In the European region, the three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases were the United Kingdom (260 098 new cases; 383.1 new cases per 100 000, 24% decrease), the Russian Federation (151 191 new cases, 103.6 new cases per 100 000, 9% decrease) and France (138 288 new cases, 211.9 new cases per 100 000, 10% increase). These three countries accounted for almost 40% of all cases reported in the region. The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the United Kingdom (8739 new deaths; 12.9 new deaths per 100 000, a 13% increase), Germany (5451 new deaths; 6.5 new deaths per 100 000, a 10% decrease) and the Russian Federation (3896 new deaths; 2.7 new deaths per 100 000, a 5% increase).
In the African region, the highest numbers of new cases were reported in South Africa (79 180 new cases; 133.5 new cases per 100 000 population; a 29% decrease), Nigeria (11 659 new cases; 5.7 new cases per 100 000; a 2% increase) and Zambia (8518 new cases; 46.3 new cases per 100 000; a 10% decrease). The countries reporting the highest number of new deaths in the past week were South Africa (3723 new deaths; 6.3 new deaths per 100 000; a 8% decrease), Zimbabwe (291 new deaths; 2.0 new deaths per 100 000; a 35% decrease) and Malawi (170 new deaths; 0.9 new deaths per 100 000; a 113% increase).
– global bihari bureau
