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WHO's Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) weekly Epidemiological situation Report

October 21, 2020

The incidence of new COVID-19 cases has continued to accelerate, while the incidence of new deaths has remained relatively stable. As of 18 October, over 40 million cases and 1.1 million deaths have been reported globally with over 2.4 million new cases and 36,000 new deaths reported over the past week.

The European Region has continued to report a rapid increase in cases and deaths with over 9,27,000 new cases reported this past week � a 25% weekly increase in cases compared to the previous week � contributing 38% of all new cases reported worldwide. Similarly, the number of deaths continues to climb with a 29% increase from last week. Increases, although more gradual were also observed in the African, Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific Regions. Declines continued to be reported in the region of Americas and the South East Asia Region; although the incidence of new infections remains high and collectively these two regions contribute over half of new cases and deaths observed globally.

The countries reporting the highest number of cases in the past week remain the same as last week: India, United States of America, France, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

Situation by WHO Region

South-East Asia Region
Overall, the region continues to show a decline in cases and deaths, with Nepal being the only country which reported an increase in both new weekly cases (12%) and new deaths (31%) in comparison to the previous week. Nepal reported 810 new cases per one million population, the highest in the region, followed by the Maldives (590) and India (319). Most countries in the region self characterize their current transmission pattern as cluster of cases (n=6, 55%), with two countries reporting community transmission and a further two reporting sporadic cases.

Bangladesh reported an 8% increase in new weekly cases. Myanmar reported a 6% increase in new weekly deaths compared to last week. The majority of the cases and deaths continue to be reported from Yangon Region. Here, the Government has further extended stay at home orders for 44 townships from 8�21 October. On 3 October, Myanmar published standard operating procedures for testing of COVID-19 with antigen based rapid diagnostic kits and began using these in Yangon Region on 29 September, followed by other regions and states.