PAHO Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update -EW4- 31 January 2023

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  • Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to January 31, 2023, a cumulative total of approximately 753 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.8 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 4, COVID-19 cases and deaths decreased in all six WHO regions (range: cases; -52.1 - -11.8% & deaths; -82.7 - -12.9% decrease).

  • Globally, approximately 1,521,557 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 4 (January 22, 2023-January 28, 2023) - a -40.1% decrease compared to EW 3 (January 15, 2023-January 21, 2023) (Figure 1). For the same period, 12,748 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -48.8% relative decrease compared the previous week.

  • In the region of the Americas, 440,325 cases and 5,172 deaths were reported in EW 4 - a - 19.2% decrease in cases and -12.9% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week.

  • At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases decreased in all four subregions (range: -34.8 - -12.2%). Similarly, COVID-19 deaths decreased in all four subregions (range: -32 - -6.3% decrease).

  • The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 43.1 cases per 100,000 population during EW 4 (53.3 the previous week). Between EW 4 and 3, the 14-day COVID-19 death rate was 10.9 deaths per 1 million population (11.5 the previous two weeks).

  • Among 19 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 5 countries and territories (range: 3.1% - 38.5%) during EW 4 compared to the previous week. Among 18 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 6 countries and territories (range: 8.2% - 300%).