Geneva: For the fourth week in a row, the number of global new cases reported fell, with 3.1 million new cases last week ending February 7, 2021, a 17% decline compared to the previous week. The number of new deaths reported also fell for a second week in a row, with 88 000 new deaths reported last week, a 10% decline as compared to the previous week.
This is the lowest figure since the week of October 26, 2020 (15 weeks ago) although there are still many countries with increasing numbers of cases.
All WHO regions reported a decline in new cases, with five out of six regions reporting more than 10% decreases (Table 1).
Europe and the Region of the Americas saw the greatest drops in absolute numbers, with together nearly 0.5 million fewer new cases reported last week (153 000 and 320 000 fewer new cases reported, respectively).
New deaths also declined in all regions except the Western Pacific, where mortality rates remained similar to the previous week.
In the past week, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases continue to be the United States of America (871 365 cases, a 19% decrease), Brazil (328 652 cases, a 10% decrease), France (136 154 cases, a 4% decrease), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (133 747 cases, a 25% decrease), and the Russian Federation (116 842 cases, a 11% decrease).
The South-East Asia region reported over 177 000 new cases in the past week, a decrease of 12% compared to last week. The region reported 2560 new deaths, a 21% decrease. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases and new deaths were Indonesia (80 697 new cases; 29.5 new cases per 100 000; a 9% decrease), India (80 180 new cases; 5.8 new cases per 100 000, a 12% decrease), and Sri Lanka (5283 new cases; 24.7 new cases per 100 000; a 7% decrease). The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new deaths this week remain Indonesia (1665 new deaths; 0.6 new deaths per 100 000, a 19% decrease), India (722 new deaths; 0.1 new deaths per 100 000, a 23% decrease) and Bangladesh (79 new deaths; <0.1 new deaths per 100 000; a 27% decrease).
The Western Pacific Region reported over 61 700 new cases the past week, a 14% decrease compared to the previous week. The region reported 1297 new deaths, a 1% increase. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases in the region this week were Malaysia (29 060 new cases; 89.8 new cases per 100 000, a 0.5% decrease), Japan (16 693 new cases; 13.2 new cases per 100 000, a 36% decrease), and the Philippines (12 005 new cases; 11 new cases per 100 000, a 1.4% increase). The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new deaths this week were Japan (684 new deaths; 0.5 new deaths per 100 000, an 8% increase), the Philippines (441 new deaths; 0.4 new deaths per 100 000, an 8% decrease) and Malaysia (111 new deaths; 0.3 new deaths per 100 000, a 40% increase).
In the past week, the Eastern Mediterranean Region reported over 158 600 new cases, a decrease of 2% compared to last week. The region reported 2761 new deaths, a 16% decrease. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases continue to be the Islamic Republic of Iran (47 639 new cases, 56.7 new cases per 100 000 population, a 7% increase), United Arab Emirates (22 741 new cases, 229.9 new cases per 100 000, 13% decrease) and Lebanon (18 923 new cases, 277.2 new cases per 100 000, a 15% decrease). The highest numbers of new deaths continue to be reported in Lebanon (531 new deaths, 7.8 new death per 100000, a 29% decrease),Islamic Republic of Iran(523 new deaths, 0.6 new death per 100 000 population, a 12% decrease), and Tunisia (482 new deaths, 4.1 new death per 100 000, a 8% decrease).
The European Region reported over 1.1 million new cases and over 33 000 new deaths, a decrease of 19% and 13% respectively when compared to the previous week. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases were France (136 154 new cases; 208.6 new cases per 100 000, a 3% decrease), the United Kingdom (133 747 new cases, 197 new cases per 100 000, a 25% decrease), and the Russian Federation (116 842 new cases, 80.1 new cases per 100 000, an 11% decrease). The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the United Kingdom (6521 new deaths; 9.6 new deaths per 100 000, a 21% decrease), Germany (4572 new deaths; 5.5 new deaths per 100 000, a 10% decrease) and the Russian Federation (3479 new deaths; 2.4 new deaths per 100 000, a 6% decrease).
Over 1.5 million new cases and over 45 000 new deaths were reported in the Region of the Americas this week, a decrease of 17% in cases and a decrease of 4% in deaths compared to the previous week. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from the United States of America (871 365 new cases; 263.3 new cases per 100 000 population; a 19% decrease), Brazil (328 652 new cases; 154.6 new cases per 100 000; a 10% decrease) and Mexico (70 978 new cases; 55.1 new cases per 100 000; a 35% decrease). The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the same countries, the United States of America (22 562 new deaths; 6.8 new deaths per 100 000; a 0.2% increase), Mexico (7711 new deaths; 6.0 new deaths per 100 000; a 14% decrease) and Brazil (7368 new deaths; 3.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 1% decrease).
In the past week, the African Region reported over 84 800 cases and just over 3200 deaths, a 22% decrease in cases and a 30% decrease in deaths respectively compared to the previous week. This is the third consecutive week the region reported decreases in both new cases and deaths. The highest numbers of new cases were reported in South Africa (24 464 new cases; 41.2 new cases per 100 000 population; a 45% decrease), Nigeria (8685 new cases; 4.2 new cases per 100 000; a 13% decrease) and Zambia (8075 new cases; 43.9 new cases per 100 000; an 8% decrease).
The countries reporting the highest number of new deaths in the past week were South Africa (2229 new deaths; 3.8 new deaths per 100 000; a 34% decrease), Malawi (150 new deaths; 0.8 new deaths per 100 000; a 31% decrease) and Zimbabwe (123 new deaths; 0.8 new deaths per 100 000; a 44% decrease).
Over 1.5 million new cases and over 45 000 new deaths were reported in the Region of the Americas this week, a decrease of 17% in cases and a decrease of 4% in deaths compared to the previous week. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from the United States of America (871 365 new cases; 263.3 new cases per 100 000 population; a 19% decrease), Brazil (328 652 new cases; 154.6 new cases per 100 000; a 10% decrease) and Mexico (70 978 new cases; 55.1 new cases per 100 000; a 35% decrease). The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the same countries, the United States of America (22 562 new deaths; 6.8 new deaths per 100 000; a 0.2% increase), Mexico (7711 new deaths; 6.0 new deaths per 100 000; a 14% decrease) and Brazil (7368 new deaths; 3.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 1% decrease).
*Source: COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update Data as received by WHO from national authorities, as of 7 February 2021.
– global bihari bureau
