Update on the ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Epidemic, Brief #111

Outbreak Update:  As of 28 February 2022, a global total of 434,112,380 COVID-19 cases and 5,944,734 related deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR): 1.4%) 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 regions (excluding Africa) are as follows: Eastern Mediterranean Region 17,919,876 (4%), European Region 178,005,730 (41%), Region of the Americas 147,068,499 (34%), South-East Asia Region 55,710,725 (13%) and Western Pacific Region 23,890,272 (6%). In the last seven days, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases globally are Germany (1,108,114), Republic of Korea (1,076,295), Russia (875,280), Brazil (576,463) and Vietnam (533,512). 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) 28 February 2022, a total of 11,188,490 COVID-19 cases and 248,812 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-four (60%) AU MS are reporting CFRs higher than the global CFR. Since the pandemic began in Africa on 15 February 2020, 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) have experienced 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 28 February 2022. Despite a test positivity rate of 11.2%, the overall daily reported number of new cases 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.