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The global cases of COVID-19 have increased by 8% compared to the previous week, totalling more than 3.6 million new cases, while new deaths increased by 21% to over 54 000.
This is according to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“This brings the cumulative numbers to over 49.7 million reported cases and over 1.2 million deaths globally since the start of the pandemic,” the organisation said.
The European region still accounts for the greatest proportion of new cases and deaths in the past seven days after reporting over half (54%) of all new cases and nearly half (47%) of additional deaths.
The five countries reporting the highest number of cases in the past week were the United States of America, France, India, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Africa
Africa reported nearly 34 000 new cases and 831 new deaths in the past week.
Meanwhile, the number of new deaths reported in the last week was 30% higher than it was in the previous week, driven largely by increases seen in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.
The WHO says South Africa continues to report the highest number of new cases and deaths in the region, accounting for nearly a third of new cases and over half of the new deaths.
According to WHO, as of 31 October, five provinces reported over 80% of cases namely, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State.
The median age of COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 39 years, and 58% of cases are female.
“The reason for this higher prevalence among females could be due to females being more represented in certain occupations in education and health sectors, where they may be at greater risk of infection, as well as differences in health-seeking behaviour,” said WHO.
SAnews.gov.za
