· The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that as of May 10th, there have been 765,903,278 confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and 6,927,378 deaths.
· Globally, over 2.7 million new cases and over 17 000 deaths were reported in the last 28 days (April 10 to May 7), a decrease of 14% and 17%, respectively, compared to the previous 28 days (March 13 to April 9):
o At the regional level, the number of newly reported 28-day cases decreased across four of the six WHO regions: the European Region (-38%), the Region of the Americas (-35%), the African Region (-25%), and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (-24%); while cases increased in two WHO regions: the Western Pacific Region (+35%), and the South-East Asia Region (+223%).
o The number of newly reported 28-day deaths decreased or remained stable across four regions: the African Region (-50%), the European Region (-41%), the Western Pacific Region (- 33%), and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (+1%); while deaths increased in two WHO regions: the Region of the Americas (+9%) and the South-East Asia Region (+281%).
· On May 5th, WHO declared an end to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency of International Concern declaration.
· As of May 9th, a total of 13,350,312,122 vaccine doses have been administered globally.
United States of America Highlights:
· As of May 11th, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made changes to its reporting on COVID-19, these changes include:
o COVID Data Tracker is no longer reporting aggregate cases and deaths, COVID-19 Community Levels, and Community Transmission Levels. Aggregate case and death data will receive a final update and will be archived on June 1, 2023, to reconcile historical data through May 10, 2023.
o CDC will only display hospital admissions, deaths, and emergency department visits data.
o Test positivity data from the COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting has been removed from COVID Data Tracker and archived at healthdata.gov. After May 11, the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System will become CDCs new source for testing data.
· As of May 6th, CDC is reporting the following:
o There have been 6,143,551 total hospitalizations and there have been 9,455 hospital admissions in the past week.
o A total of 1,127,928 people has died. There has only been 1.8% deaths due to COVID-19 in the past week.
· May 11th marks the end of the Federal Disaster Declaration and the Public Health Emergency Declaration. With the end of the Public Health Emergency Declaration there will be several changes:
o COVID-19 at-home tests may not be covered by insurance. Insurance providers will no longer be required to waive costs or provide free COVID-19 tests. CDC’s No Cost COVID-19 Testing Locator can help people find current community and pharmacy partners participating in the Increasing Community Access to Testing program.
o The COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Federal employees, Federal contractors and international air travelers have ended.
o The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security on May 1st announced that they will start the process to end their vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, CMS-certified healthcare facilities, and certain non-citizens at the land border.
· The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers and health care providers to not use certain lots of recalled SD Biosensor Pilot COVID-19 tests due to contaminated liquid solutions found in the test kit.
· Vaccination and Treatment Update:
o As of May 10th, the vaccination efforts are reporting the following:
ü People with at Least 1 Dose (Age 5+ Years): 85.8% of the population
ü Fully Vaccinated People (Age 5+ Years): 73.5% of the population
ü People with an Updated Booster (Age 5+ Years): 18% of the population
o Vaccinations will remain free for all adults and children. To find the nearest vaccination center:
ü Online
ü Calling 1-800-232-0233
ü Texting your zip code to 438829
o COVID-19 Treatments will remain available for free while supplies last. After that, the price will be determined by the medication manufacturer and the health insurance companies.
Note from the Global Crisis Management Report’s Editor
The COVID-19 Pandemic has killed millions of people around the world. It put unbelievable strain on virtually every aspect of daily life. The pandemic showed us what we can be at our very worst and the damage ignorance and fear can cause. It also showed us at our best. Relying on tried-and-true public health responses, using science to find ways to test, vaccinate and treat this virus and working together in common cause locally, nationally, and globally to help our fellow humans.
This pandemic will no doubt be analyzed and evaluated for decades to come. It is my hope that the lessons we learned will guide us in future epidemics and pandemics to reach for one another and rely on rational and scientific-based approaches.
Sources:
· WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard
· WHO Weekly Epidemiological Update (May 11)
· WHO Twitter Page
· CDC COVID-19 Website
· End of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Declaration
· CDC Twitter Page
· COVID-19 Real-Time Learning Network Twitter Page
· FDA Medical Devices Twitter Page
· HHS Twitter Page
Resources
COVID-19 Surveillance After Expiration of the Public Health Emergency Declaration ― United States, May 11, 2023 (New)
COVID-19 Resources for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Care Providers (New)
COVID-19 Mortality Update — United States, 2022 (New)
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Statement on End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (New)
COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
WHO COVID-19 Detailed Surveillance Data Dashboard
WHO Global Solidarity Response Fund