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Geneva: With the exception of the South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions, all other regions have seen a decrease in the weekly COVID-19 case incidence in the last seven days, the World Health Organisation stated today. Over 1.7 million new COVID-19 cases and 39 000 new deaths were reported to WHO for the week ending 23 August, a 4% decrease in the number of cases and 5% increase in the number of deaths compared to the previous week (10 to 16 August). A cumulative total of over 23 million cases and 800 000 deaths have been reported so far.
Although the Americas remain the most affected, accounting for 50% of newly reported cases and 62% of deaths, the region had the largest decrease compared to the previous week, primarily driven by reduced transmission rates reported from the United States of America, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Panama. Several countries and territories in the Caribbean islands, however, reported a large increase in cases and deaths in the last seven days including Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Jamaica and Guyana.
“The increase in cases observed in the Caribbean islands may in part be due to an increase in tourism,” the WHO said. The number of deaths reported in Peru decreased by 73% compared to the previous week, however, the incidence death rate in the last seven days (42 deaths per 1 million population) and the cumulative death rate in the country (826 deaths per 1 million population) remains the highest in the region.
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The South-East Asia Region, which is the second most active region, continues to report an increase accounting for 28% and 15% of newly reported cases and deaths respectively. The region has seen a steady increase in reported cases and deaths, with a 4% increase in the past seven days. India continues to report the majority of cases, and has reported a cumulative total of over three million cases, which accounts for 86% of all regional confirmed cases. The number of cases and deaths in Nepal has rapidly increased in the last seven days with a 49% and 52% increase respectively compared to the previous weeks. In addition, the testing capacity in Nepal has significantly increased resulting in a 38% increase in the testing rate.
Eastern Mediterranean Region
The number of cases reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region increased by 4% in the last seven days, however, the number of deaths decreased by 5% and has consistently decreased over the last six weeks. Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan reported the highest increase in cases compared to the previous week. Following the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon on August 4, health care capacity in the area has diminished while COVID-19 cases continue to rise. As a result of the increase in cases, the Ministry of Public Health has established testing sites for residents and volunteers in the areas most affected by the blast. In addition, several health facilities are being restored and health supplies, including personal protective equipments, have been received.
European Region
Following a steady increase in the number of cases reported in the European Region over the last few weeks, the number of cases decreased slightly by 1% in the last seven days . The number of deaths reported in the last seven days decreased by 12%, continuing the downward trend. Not all countries are reporting a decline: Spain reported a 200% increase in the number of deaths in the last week compared to the previous week. As countries across the region continue to report a resurgence in cases, several countries reported record high numbers in the last seven days including Croatia, Poland, Ukraine, Czechia and Moldova. In response to the increase in cases across the region, many countries have recently re-introduced public health and social measures including travel restrictions.
African Region
The number of cases and deaths reported in the African Region decreased by 8% and 11% respectively in the past seven days, primarily due to a decrease in cases reported in Algeria, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa (Figure 3, Table 2). Despite the overall decrease in the number of cases across the region, Uganda reported an increase of over 300%. Here, intensive community transmission has been reported in capital Kampala, particularly the divisions of Makindye, Nakawa and Kawempe. Ethiopia has continued to report an increase in cases and deaths; and similarly, Namibia and Nigeria reported a 55% and 19% increase in the number of cases respectively. After 22 days of no cases, Mauritius reported two new cases in returnees who were repatriated from a neighbouring country.
– globalbihari bureau
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