Omicron Spread... Global COVID-19 Cases Increase by 11% in One Week

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Due to the spread of the Omicron variant, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide has rapidly increased.

According to foreign media on the 29th (local time), the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the number of new COVID-19 cases worldwide for the week of the 20th to the 26th was 4.99 million, an 11% increase compared to the previous week.

By continent, Europe accounted for more than half with 2.84 million cases, followed by the Americas with 1.48 million. The week-on-week increase rates were 3% and 39%, respectively, indicating a very rapid spread in the Americas.

In the Americas, the United States accounted for the vast majority with 1.18 million confirmed cases. The week-on-week increase rate was 34%.

Contrary to the sharp rise in confirmed cases, the global number of COVID-19 deaths during the same period was reported to be 44,680, a 4% decrease compared to the previous week.

WHO stated that the overall risk level of the Omicron variant remains very high and that its spread is much faster than the Delta variant, which is the dominant strain worldwide.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.