The global number of new cases reported last week (5-11 July 2021) was nearly 3 million, a 10% increase as compared to the previous week (Figure 1). Following a steady decline for nine consecutive weeks, the number of weekly deaths increased by 3% this week compared to the previous week, with over 55,000 deaths reported. Globally, COVID-19 incidence increased with an average of over 400,000 cases reported each day as compared to 370,000 from the previous week. The cumulative number of cases reported globally is now over 186 million and the number of deaths exceeds 4 million.
This week, all Regions with the exception of the Americas recorded an increase in incidence. The Eastern Mediterranean Region recorded the largest increase in incidence (25%) followed by European Region with a 20% increase as compared to the previous week (Table 1). The African Region had the smallest percentage increase in incidence with a 5% increase. However, the region recorded a 50% increase in the number of deaths as compared to the previous week. The South-East Asia Region also recorded a significant increase in number of deaths, reporting a 26% increase as compared to the previous week. The Region of the Americas reported a 3% decline in incidence and an 11% decrease in number of deaths reported last week.
The highest numbers of new cases were reported from Brazil (333 030 new cases; 9% decrease), India (291 789 new cases; 7% decrease), Indonesia (243 119 new cases; 44% increase), The United Kingdom (210 277 new cases; 30% increase), and Colombia (174 320 new cases; 15% decrease). Over the past week, the highest numbers of new cases per 100 000 population were reported from British Virgin Islands (2497 new cases per 100 000 pop), Seychelles (763 new cases per 100 000 pop), Cyprus (673 new cases per 100 000 pop), Jersey (628 new cases per 100 000 pop), and Fiji (490 new cases per 100 000 pop).
Globally, cases of the Alpha variant have been reported in 178 countries, territories or areas (six new countries in the past week), while 123 countries (three new countries) reported cases of the Beta variant; 75 countries (three new countries) reported cases of the Gamma variant; 111 countries (15 new countries) reported cases of the Delta variant.
Sources:
World Health Organisation (WHO), 13th July 2021
