Global COVID-19 Cases Surge by 60% in 28 Days, Affecting 103 Countries
Between July 24 and August 20, over 1.47 million COVID-19 infections were recorded worldwide, marking a 63% surge compared to the previous 28 days. However, the number of deaths saw a 48% decrease, with over 2,000 reported during the same period, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Rising Cases Amid Varied Regional Impact
The WHO's report highlights 1,470,201 new COVID-19 cases and 2,059 deaths within this four-week span, spreading across 103 countries. Despite these fluctuations, the virus remains a significant threat. The WHO urges nations to maintain their COVID-19 response infrastructure, with an emphasis on early warning systems, surveillance, and identifying emerging strains.
WHO Strain Concerns
The EG.5 COVID strain has been found in 53 countries as of August 24, up from 50 a week earlier, according to the WHO. While cases in the eastern Mediterranean increased by 112%, they increased by 88% and 12% in the Western Pacific and Europe, respectively. Africa, on the other hand, saw an 84% drop in cases over this time.
Regional Impact
The eastern Mediterranean observed a 70% increase in mortality, while other WHO regions experienced a decrease. South Korea led in both case (1,286,028) and death (328) counts. Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Singapore also saw notable case numbers, while Russia, Italy, Australia, and the Philippines recorded significant death counts.
Moreover, The WHO has documented 769,806,130 COVID-19 cases and 6,955,497 deaths since the pandemic status was declared in March 2020 and the global health emergency in January 2020, respectively. The actual death toll, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesaid, may be substantially higher and may exceed 20 million.
This data reflects the complex and evolving nature of the pandemic, with varying regional impacts and ongoing efforts to manage and mitigate its effects worldwide.
