Global Highlights:
· The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting that there have been 660,746,894 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,692,538 deaths.
· Globally, nearly 2.9 million new cases and over 11,000 deaths were reported in the week of January 2-8. This represents a reduction in weekly cases and deaths of 9% and 12% respectively:
o However, these trends need to be interpreted considering the reduction in testing and delays in reporting in many countries during the year-end holiday season.
o Therefore, data presented in this report, especially for the most recent weeks, are incomplete and the decreasing trends should be interpreted in that context as they may change with updated information provided following the holiday period.
· At the country level, the highest numbers of new weekly cases were reported from Japan (1,070,496 new cases; +13%), the United States of America (462,944 new cases; +17%), the Republic of Korea (403,800 new cases; -12%), China (204,609 new cases; -6%), and Brazil (145,933 new cases; -29%).
· The highest numbers of new weekly deaths were reported from the United States of America (2,695 new deaths; +8%), Japan (2,149 new deaths; +11%), Brazil (926 new deaths; -17%), China (722 new deaths; +11%), and France (621 new deaths; -22%).
· WHO has issued a rapid risk assessment based on the available data on the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant. This assessment is available here.
· WHO is stressing that member states are not providing adequate data on deaths, specifically for age and sex. Currently, only 53 out of 194 countries are providing this data to WHO.
· On January 3rd, the Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution met with Chinese health officials on the COVID-19 situation in mainland China:
o Acknowledging the information shared, the group reiterates the critical need for and importance of additional analysis as well as sharing of sequence data to understand the evolution of the virus and the emergence of concerning mutations or variants.
· The latest operational update on WHO activities included the following actions:
o WHO and partners deployed medical personnel and supplies in solidarity with Tuvalu’s COVID-19 response effort.
o WHO conducts an assessment visit in Bhutan, ahead of the installation of the country’s first onsite medical oxygen generation system.
· As of January 6th, a total of 13,107,022,929 vaccine doses have been administered globally.
United States of America Highlights:
· The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that there have been 101,094,670 cases and 1,091,184 deaths.
· The daily updates are currently:
o 470,699 new cases
o 2,731 new deaths
o There are 38,373 current hospitalizations with 5,995 new admissions.
· As of January 11th, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services has extended the Public Health Emergency Declaration.
· The CDC has updated the Travel Requirements for Air Passengers who are flying from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, or have been in these areas in the past 10 days and are flying from Seoul, Toronto, or Vancouver:
o All air passengers 2 years and older, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before boarding a flight to the United States.
o There is also an option for people who have documented recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
· On January 5th, the National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with the U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response launchedthe Home Test to Treat program:
o This program is an entirely virtual community health intervention that will provide free COVID-19 health services (at-home rapid tests, telehealth sessions and at-home treatments) in selected communities.
o The program will make antiviral treatment available for eligible individuals who receive a positive test result.
· Vaccination Update:
o People with at Least 1 Dose (Age 5+ Years): 85.4% of the population
o Fully Vaccinated People (Age 5+ Years): 73.1% of the population
o People with an Updated Booster (Age 5+ Years): 15.4% of the population
Sources:
· WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard
· WHO Weekly Epidemiological Update (January 11th)
· WHO Twitter Page
· RENEWAL OF DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS
· CDC COVID-19 Website
· CDC Twitter Page
· White House COVID-19 Testing and Treatment Coordinator Twitter Page
Resources
COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
WHO COVID-19 Detailed Surveillance Data Dashboard
WHO Global Solidarity Response Fund