Geneva: Globally, the number of new weekly COVID-19 cases increased for the fourth consecutive week after a declining trend since the last peak in March 2022, the World Health Organization reported here today. The globally reported cases have increased nearly 30% over the past two weeks.
In India, 112 456 new cases were reported during the week of June 27 to July 3, 2022. This meant 8.1 new cases per 100 000, and an increase of 21%. During the period, India also reported 200 new deaths, which was an increase of 39% – (<1 new death per 100 000).
During the week of June 27 to July 3, 2022, over 4.6 million cases were reported, a figure similar to that of the previous week. The number of new weekly deaths declined by 12% as compared to the previous week, with over 8100 fatalities reported.
As of July 3, 2022, over 546 million confirmed cases and over 6.3 million deaths have been reported globally.
At the country level, the highest numbers of new weekly cases were reported from France (603 074 new cases; +33%), Germany (555 331 new cases;-2%), Italy (511 037 new cases; +50%), the United States of America (496 049 new cases; -29%, and Brazil (334 852 new cases; -4%.
The highest numbers of new weekly deaths were reported in the United States of America (1 622 new deaths; -19%), Brazil (1187 new deaths; -10%), China (755 new deaths; -30%), Italy (430 new deaths; +21%), and the Russian Federation (371 new deaths; -14%).
The Omicron Variant Of Concern (VOC) continues to be the dominant variant circulating globally, accounting for 92% of sequences reported to the Global initiative on sharing all influenza data (GISAID) between June 1 and 30, 2022.
The remaining 8% waiting to be assigned are (presumed Omicron), Delta VOC and recombinants.
Among Omicron lineages, the proportions of BA.5 and BA.4 continue to increase. BA.5 has been detected in 83 countries, and during epidemiological week 25 (19 to 25 June, the proportion of BA.5 among all sequences submitted weekly to GISAID increased from 37% to 52%.
Although BA.4 is also rising globally, the rate of increase is not as high as that of BA.5. BA.4 has been detected in 73 countries, and now accounts for 12% of all sequences submitted during week 25 (up from 11% in the previous week). BA.4 and BA.5 share similar mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike but have different mutations in non-spike regions.
– global bihari bureau
