PAHO Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update -EW50- 20 December 2022

Download (2.73 MB)
  • Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to December 20, 2022, a cumulative total of approximately 650 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.6 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 50, cases decreased in four regions while they increased in WPRO (8.1%) and AMRO (17.9%). Similarly, COVID-19 deaths decreased in four regions while they increased in WPRO (6.9%) and AMRO (2.6%).

  • Globally, approximately 3,821,620 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 50 (December 11, 2022-December 17, 2022) - a 4.8% increase compared to EW 49 (December 04, 2022- December 10, 2022) (Figure 1). For the same period, 10,737 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -4.9% relative decrease compared the previous week.

  • In the region of the Americas, 1,022,218 cases and 4,637 deaths were reported in EW 50 - a 17.9% increase in cases and 2.6% increase in deaths compared to the previous week.

  • At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases and deaths increased in two subregions – the South American subregion (49.6% and 55.0%, respectively) and the Central American subregion (10.4% and 57.7%, respectively).

  • The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 99.9 cases per 100,000 population during EW 50 (84.8 the previous week). Between EW 50 and 49, the 14- day COVID-19 death rate was 9 deaths per 1 million population (7.5 the previous two weeks).

  • Among 22 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 12 countries and territories (range: 1% - 122.6%) during EW 50 compared to the previous week. Among 16 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 7 countries and territories (range: 0.4% - 133.3%).