Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiological Update: Issue 61 (5 April 2023)

ABSTRACT

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and up to 05 April 2023, a cumulative total of approximately 762 million COVID-19 cases including 6.9 million deaths were reported from all six WHO regions. During epidemiological week (EW) 13, cases decreased in four regions while they increased in SEARO and AMRO, and deaths decreased in four regions while they increased in SEARO and AFRO. In the region of the Americas, 277,830 cases and -1,044 deaths were reported in EW 13 – a 2.4% increase in cases and -136.8% decrease in deaths compared to the previous week. Please note, the negative number in deaths for EW 13 in the region of the Americas is due to a retro-adjustment done by Chile for 2020 cumulative deaths. At the subregional level, COVID-19 cases increased in one subregion – North America (12% increase). Deaths increased in one subregion – Central America (5.3% increase). The overall weekly case notification rate for the region of the Americas was 27.2 cases per 100,000 population during EW 13 (26.5 the previous week). Between EW 13 and 12, the 14-day COVID-19 death rate was 1.8 deaths per 1 million population (5.2 the previous two weeks). Among 18 countries/territories in the region with available data, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in 11 countries and territories (range 3.4% - 133.3%) during EW 13 compared to the previous week. Among 14 countries and territories with available data, COVID-19 ICU admissions increased in 4 countries and territories (range 18.5% - 100%).