24 Aug 2021 Your two key COVID-19 weekly reports
Weekly Epidemiological Update
24 August
With over 4.5 million new cases reported this week (16-22 August), the number of new cases reported globally seems to be plateauing after increasing for nearly two months (since mid-June). The Regions of the Americas and Western Pacific reported an increase in new cases in the past week, 8% and 20% respectively. Globally, the number of deaths reported this week remained similar to last week, with over 68 000 new deaths reported. Two Regions, Europe and the Americas, reported an increase in new deaths, 11% and 10% respectively. As of the 22 August, the cumulative number of cases reported globally is now over 211 million and the cumulative number of deaths is just over 4.4 million
In this edition, one special focus update is provided:
- A detailed description of the phenotypic characteristics (transmissibility, disease severity, and vaccine effectiveness) of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. It also includes updates on the geographic distribution of VOCs
Weekly Operational Update
23 August
In this edition of the COVID-19 Weekly Operational Update, highlights of country-level actions and WHO support to countries include:
- Restoring essential health services in Haiti post-earthquake
- Strengthening Infection Prevention Control with the Georgian ambulance service
- Delivering critical health services in Afghanistan
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic receives doses of the COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility
- All-women teams trek miles to vaccinate in India
- Progress on a subset of indicators from the SPRP 2021 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
- Updates on WHO’s financing to support countries in SPRP 2021 implementation and provision of critical supplies
Lower-income countries and indigenous populations receive WHO assistance amid the ongoing threat of COVID-19
Stories from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Liberia, Nepal, Colombia, Yemen, and more
Photo ©PAHO/WHO Karen González Abril
Video highlights from work in countries
Read more stories of ongoing work in countries around the world in support of the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan 2021
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