Geneva: The number of global new cases reported has continued to fall, with 2.7 million new cases last week as of February 14, 2021, a 16% decline over 500 000 fewer new cases compared to the previous week. The number of new deaths reported also fell, with 81 000 new deaths reported last week, a 10% decline as compared to the previous week. A total of five out of six WHO regions reported a double-digit percentage decline in new cases (Table 1), with only the Eastern Mediterranean Region showing a 7% rise. Europe and the Americas continued to see the greatest drops in absolute numbers of cases. Meanwhile, the number of new deaths declined in all regions.
In the past week, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases continue to be the United States of America (673 630 cases, a 23% decrease), Brazil (318 290 cases, a 3% decrease), France (127 565 cases, a 6% decrease), the Russian Federation (104 602 cases, an 11% decrease), and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (97 271 cases, a 27% decrease).
In the past week, the South-East Asia Region reported over 150 000 new cases, a decrease of 13% compared to last week. The region reported over 2300 new deaths, a 9% decrease. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases were India (78 577 new cases; 5.7 new cases per 100 000; a 2% decrease), Indonesia (63 693 new cases; 23.3 new cases per 100 000; a 21% decrease), and Sri Lanka (6276 new cases; 29.3 new cases per 100 000; a 19% increase). The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new deaths this week were Indonesia (1543 new deaths; 0.6 new deaths per 100 000; a 7% decrease), India (646 new deaths; <0.1 new deaths per 100 000; a 11% decrease) and Bangladesh (76 new deaths; <0.1 new deaths per 100 000; a 4% decrease).
The Western Pacific Region reported over 49 000 new cases the past week, a 20% decrease compared to the previous week. The region reported 1100 new deaths, a 13% decrease. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases in the region this week were Malaysia (23 084 new cases; 71.3 new cases per 100 000; a 21% decrease), the Philippines (11 734 new cases; 10.7 new cases per 100 000; a 2% decrease), and Japan (11 037 new cases; 8.7 new cases per 100 000; a 34% decrease). The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new deaths this week were Japan (574 new deaths; 0.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 16% decrease), the Philippines (397 new deaths; 0.4 new deaths per 100 000; a 10% decrease) and Malaysia (101 new deaths; 0.3 new deaths per 100 000; a 9% decrease).
The Eastern Mediterranean Region reported over 170 000 new cases, a 7% increase compared to last week. The region reported just over 2500 new deaths, a 9% decrease. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases continue to be the Islamic Republic of Iran (51 503 new cases; 61.3 new cases per 100 000 population; an 8% increase), United Arab Emirates (22 203 new cases; 224.5 new cases per 100 000; a 2% decrease) and Lebanon (19 156 new cases; 280.7 new cases per 100 000; a 1% increase). The highest numbers of new deaths continue to be reported in the Islamic Republic of Iran (471 new deaths; 0.6 new death per 100 000 population; a 10% decrease), Lebanon (399 new deaths; 5.8 new death per 100 000; a 25% decrease) and Pakistan (362 new deaths; 0.2 new death per 100 000; a 24% increase).
Over 1.3 million new cases and over 44 000 new deaths were reported in the Region of the Americas this week, a 16% and 2% decrease respectively compared to the previous week. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from the United States of America (673 630 new cases; 203.5 new cases per 100 000 population; a 23% decrease), Brazil (318 290 new cases; 149.7 new cases per 100 000; a 3% decrease) and Mexico (66 083 new cases; 51.3 new cases per 100 000; a 7% decrease). The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the same countries, the United States of America (21 412 new deaths; 6.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 5% decrease), Mexico (8267 new deaths; 6.4 new deaths per 100 000; a 7% increase) and Brazil (7455 new deaths; 3.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 1% increase).
The European Region reported over 960 000 new cases and over 28 000 new deaths, a decrease of 18% and 19% respectively when compared to the previous week. The three countries reporting the highest numbers of new cases were France (127 565 new cases; 195.4 new cases per 100 000; a 6% decrease), the Russian Federation (104 602 new cases; 71.7 new cases per 100 000; a 11% decrease), and the United Kingdom (97 271 new cases; 143.3 new cases per 100 000; an 27% decrease). The highest numbers of deaths were reported from the United Kingdom (4816 new deaths; 7.1 new deaths per 100 000; a 26% decrease), the Russian Federation (3465 new deaths; 2.4 new deaths per 100 000, similar to previous week) and Germany (3443 new deaths; 4.1 new deaths per 100 000; a 25% decrease).
In the past week, the African Region reported over 68 000 cases and 2500 deaths, a 20% and 21% decrease respectively compared to the previous week. This is the fourth consecutive week the Region reported decreases in both new cases and deaths. The highest numbers of new cases were reported in South Africa (16 363 new cases; 27.6 new cases per 100 000 population; a 33% decrease), Zambia (7027 new cases; 38.2 new cases per 100 000; a 13% decrease) and Nigeria (6422 new cases; 3.1 new cases per 100 000; a 26% decrease). The countries reporting the highest number of new deaths in the past week were South Africa (1641 new deaths; 2.8 new deaths per 100 000; a 26% decrease), Zambia (101 new deaths; 0.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 7% increase), Nigeria (100 new deaths; <0.1 new deaths per 100 000; a 45% increase) and Malawi (100 new deaths; 0.5 new deaths per 100 000; a 33% decrease).
Update on SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
Variant VOC 202012/01
Since the last update on February 9, variant VOC 202012/01 spread to eight additional countries. As of February 16, a total of 94 countries across all six WHO regions reported either imported cases or community transmission of this variant . Local transmission had been reported in at least 47 countries across all six WHO regions.
Variant 501Y.V2
Since the last update on 9 February, 501Y.V2 has been reported from two additional countries– now totalling 46 countries across all six WHO regions. Local transmission has been reported in at least 12 countries across four WHO regions.
Variant P.1
Since the last update, variant P.1 has been reported in six additional countries. To date, this variant is reported in 21 countries across five of the six WHO regions. So far, local transmission has been reported in at least two countries in one WHO region.
Source: COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update Data as received by WHO from national authorities, as of 14 February 2021
– global bihari bureau
