Update on the ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Epidemic, Brief #107

Outbreak Update:  As of 31 January 2022, a global total of 373,180,340 COVID-19 cases and 5,659,292 related deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR): 1.5%) 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 reporting regions (excluding Africa) are as follows: Eastern Mediterranean Region 15,947,365 (4%), European Region 143,224,359 (38%), Region of the Americas 135,082,663 (36%), South-East Asia Region 52,155,418 (14%) and Western Pacific Region 15,768,679 (4%). In the last seven days, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases globally are the United States (3,595,883), France (2,305,238), India (1,759,112), Brazil (1,305,447) and Germany (1,070,693). 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) 31 January 2022, a total of 10,785,043 COVID-19 cases and 239,288 deaths (CFR: 2.2%) have been reported in 55 African Union (AU) Member States (MS). This represents 3% of all cases and 4.2% of all deaths reported globally. Thirty-three (60%) AU MS are reporting CFRs higher than the Global CFR. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 53 (96%) AU MS have experienced a third wave, 47 (72%) countries have experienced a fourth wave, and nine countries (Algeria, Benin, Congo Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mauritius, Somalia and Tunisia) are experiencing a fifth wave of COVID-19 cases. Figure 1 shows the trend of new COVID-19 cases reported per day by the AU region from 15 February 2020 to 31 January 2022. The overall daily number of new cases being reported 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.