Update on the ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Epidemic, Brief #112

Outbreak Update:  As of 7 March 2022, a global total of 444,958,015 COVID-19 cases and 5,997,663 related deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR): 1.4%) have been reported by 227 countries and territories to the World Health Organization (WHO). The distribution of cumulative cases (proportion of global cases) from the WHO regions (excluding Africa) are as follows: Eastern Mediterranean Region 18,062,037 (4%), European Region 183,021,306 (41%), Region of the Americas 148,106,582 (33%), South-East Asia Region 56,169,589 (13%) and Western Pacific Region 28,026,880 (6%). In the last seven days, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases globally are Republic of Korea (1,532,521), Germany (1,124,310), Vietnam (1,113,695), Russia (616,782) and Japan (438,913). For more detailed information on cases and deaths reported outside of Africa, refer to the WHO COVID-19 dashboard.

As of 6 p.m. East African Time (EAT) 7 March 2022, a total of 11,232,756 COVID-19 cases and 249,686 deaths (CFR: 2.2%) have been reported by the 55 African Union (AU) Member States (MS). This represents 3% of all cases and 4.2% of all deaths reported globally. Thirty-four (60%) AU MS are reporting CFRs higher than the global CFR. Since the detection of COVID-19 on the African continent in February 2020, 53 (96%) AU MS have experienced three COVID-19 waves, 47 (72%) countries have experienced four waves, and nine countries (Algeria, Benin, Congo Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mauritius, Somalia and Tunisia) have experienced five waves. Figure 1 shows the trend of new COVID-19 cases reported per day by the AU region from 15 February 2020 to 7 March 2022. Despite a test positivity rate of 11.2%, the overall daily reported number of new cases across the continent is on a downward trend. More information on the COVID-19 situation in Africa is available on the Africa CDC daily dashboard and hotspot dashboard.