22 March 2022 Your two key COVID-19 weekly reports
Weekly Epidemiological Update
22 March
After a consistent decrease since the end of January 2022, the number of new weekly cases rose for a second consecutive week, with a 7% increase reported during the week of 14 through 20 March 2022, as compared to the previous week. The number of new deaths has continued a decreasing trend (-23% as compared to the previous week). Across the six WHO regions, over 12 million cases and just under 33 000 deaths were reported
As of 20 March 2022, over 468 million confirmed cases and over 6 million deaths have been reported globally
At the regional level, the number of new weekly cases increased in the Western Pacific region (+21%), remained stable in the European region, and decreased in the Eastern Mediterranean (-41%), Africa (-33%), South-East Asia (-23%) and Americas (-17%) regions
In this edition, we provide an update on the geographic distribution of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including the prevalence and summary of current evidence of the Omicron variant. We also provide updates on vaccine effectiveness for the Delta and Omicron variants
Weekly Operational Update
22 March
In this edition of the COVID-19 Weekly Operational Update, highlights of country-level actions and WHO support to countries include:
- Rallying to combat COVID-19 rumours in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through a rumour alert and refutation system
- WHO recommends the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s public health laboratory for recognition as a national influenza centre
- WHO and Ministry of Health Zambia scale-up COVID-19 response and continuity of health services through the support of the Act-A Health Systems Connector
- WHO/Europe holds a workshop on data analysis and information management for emergency response for Azerbaijan through the Emergency Response Information Management System (ERIMS) initiative
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic Ministry of Health and WHO prepare local media for potential Omicron surge
- The Plurinational State of Bolivia leverages influenza capacities for COVID-19 response
- WHO builds a Global Health Facilities Database: Leveraging insights from COVID-19 to ensure better access to primary healthcare and Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
- Updates from the UN Crisis Management Team (UNCMT)
- Measuring the impact of online COVID-19 vaccine training courses
- Operations Support and Logistics
- Progress on a subset of global indicators that demonstrate country and global progress to end the acute phase of the pandemic
Global Health Emergency Appeal 2022
WHO’s Global Health Emergency Appeal for 2022 helps ensure that one billion people will be better protected from health emergencies. This new annual appeal covers WHO’s requirements to meet urgent emergency and humanitarian health needs for every region, including the COVID-19 response.
WHO in emergencies: a partner in health, serving the world’s most vulnerable people
WHO SPRP 2021 Mid-term Report - WHO Strategic Action Against COVID-19
WHO COVID-19 SPRP: Updated Appeal September 2021 - March 2022
New ACT-Accelerator Appeal: Supporting the spinal cord of the global COVID-19 response - December 2021
Read more stories of ongoing work in countries around the world in support of the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan 2021
This week we have received additional funds from the United States Department of State (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)). Thanks to all donors and partners contributing to the WHO COVID-19 Response
This email aims to keep you informed about WHO's work to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and showcase stories of impact only possible thanks to the contributions of our donors and partners. Help us improve it by sharing your feedback to WHO media
