PAHO Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update -EW51- 28 December 2022

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  • Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to December 28, 2022, a cumulative total of approximately 652.2 million COVID-19 cases including about 6.7 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 51, COVID-19 cases decreased in all WHO regions (range: -67 - -4.2%). COVID-19 deaths decreased in three WHO regions while they increased in AFRO (45.5%), AMRO (0.9%), and EMRO (6.5%).

  • Globally, approximately 2,749,815 new COVID-19 cases were reported in EW 51 (December 18, 2022-December 24, 2022) - a -29.2% decrease compared to EW 50 (December 11, 2022- December 17, 2022) (Figure 1). For the same period, 8,761 new COVID-19 deaths were reported globally – a -24.4% relative decrease compared the previous week.

  • In the region of the Americas, 993,454 cases and 4,759 deaths were reported in EW 51 - a -4.2% decrease in cases and 0.9% increase in deaths compared to the previous week.

  • At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases increased in one subregion – North America (11.5%) while they decreased in the remaining three subregions (range: -18.6 - -9.4%). Deaths increased in North America (6.5%) and Central America (2.4%) while they decreased in South America (-9%) and the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands (-23.7%).

  • The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 97.1 cases per 100,000 population during EW 51 (101.3 the previous week). Between EW 51 and 50, the 14- day COVID-19 death rate was 9.3 deaths per 1 million population (9 the previous two weeks).

  • Among 22 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 5 countries and territories (range: 0.7% - 84.5%) during EW 51 compared to the previous week. Among 11 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 7 countries and territories (range: 0.4% - 100%).