Global COVID cases trend down, with surges in Japan, Korea
Global COVID-19 cases dropped again last week, as the BA.5-fueled disease burden shifts to some Asian nations, including Japan and South Korea, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest weekly update.In US developments, the Biden administration today released two new reports on long COVID, one on a research action plan and the other on services and support for people experiencing the long-term effects of the disease.Cases still high as subvariants increaseAfter global cases rose through June, COVID activity appears to be declining, with a 9% drop last week compared to the week before, the WHO said.
Two regions, however, reported increases, the Western Pacific, where cases rose 20%, and Africa, where illnesses were up 5%.The WHO has urged caution in interpreting trends based on cases, due to declines in testing and surveillance.In the Western Pacific region, the highest jumps were in Japan, which reported a 42% increase, and South Korea, which reported a 25% rise compared to the week before.Japan's cases are averaging more than 200,000 per day, with healthcare systems feeling pressure in some areas, partly due to COVID-19 illnesses in staff, according to the Japan Times.
South Korea is reporting more than 100,000 cases a day, the highest since the middle of April, according to the Korea Herald.In Africa, the biggest proportional increases were reported from Liberia, Seychelles, and Rwanda.Of more than 6.5 million cases reported to the WHO last week, the five countries with the most cases were Japan, the United States, South Korea, Germany, and Italy.Deaths were stable last week after rising the previous week, with about 14,000 reported to the WHO, with the United States reporting the most.The proportions of
United States
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Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
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India
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Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
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Brazil
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Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
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United Kingdom
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Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
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Russia
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Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
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