January 25, 2023
Global overview:
Globally, approximately 1.9 million new cases and more than 12,000 deaths were reported in one week in January 16th to 22nd, 2023.
In last 28 days (from December 26th, 2022 to January 22nd, 2023), more than 11 million new cases and more than 55,000 new deaths were reported globally – a 25% decrease in incidence and a 13% increase in deaths, respectively.
At the regional level, number of newly reported weekly cases decreased in five of the six WHO regions: African (-41%), Western Pacific (-39%), European (-33%), and Southeast Asia (-24%) and Americas region (-21%); While number of cases increased in one WHO region, the Eastern Mediterranean Region (+54%). The number of newly reported weekly deaths decreased or remained stable across five regions: African (-65%), European (-42%), Western Pacific (-16%), Southeast Asian (-12%), Americas region (+1%); While the number of deaths increased in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (+24%).
At the country level, the highest number of new weekly cases were reported from the following countries: Japan (672,526; -34%), USA (323,721; -25%), Republic of Korea (192,638; -33%), China (144,066).; -25%) and Brazil (114,916; -5%). The highest new numbers of weekly deaths were from USA (3,922; -8%), Japan (2,779; -2%), Brazil (952; +108%), China (617; -23%), and Spain (424; + 21%).
In the second epidemiological week of 2023, 30 countries (13% of Member States) reported hospital admissions due to COVID-19 infection to WHO while 23 countries (10%) reported intensive care admissions.
COVID-19 mutants and risk assessment:
Globally, from December 23rd, 2022 to January 23rd, 2023, Omicron mutant accounted for over 99.9% of known COVID-19 genetic sequences reported in past 30 days. BA.5 sub-mutant leads by 68%, followed by the BA.2 sub-mutant by 16%.
WHO, through the Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), is assessing and continually updating the global risk of XBB.1.5 sub-mutant.
Globally, from 22nd, October 2022 to 23rd, January 2023, 8,931 genetic sequences of XBB.1.5 mutant were reported from 54 countries mostly from USA (75.0%) followed by UK (9.9%), Canada (3.0%), Denmark (2.0%), Germany (1.5%), Austria (1.3%).
After meeting of the Advisory Group on the Evolution of Viruses on January 23rd, 2023, WHO revised risk assessment of XBB.1.5 from “Low” to “Moderate” based on additional reports from some countries of prevalence of infection of this variant compared to other variants and its immunogenicity. and laboratory studies.
Overall, XBB.1.5 does not appear to cause additional public health risks compared to other Omicron sub-strains. The organization recommends that member states give priority to studies regarding epidemiological spread, virus resistance to immunity, and severity of infection of this strain.
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