Globally, weekly COVID-19 case incidence plateaued this week (29 November — 5 December 2021), with over 4 million confirmed new cases reported, similar to the number reported in the previous week’s figures.

However, new weekly deaths increased by 10% as compared to the previous week, with over 52 500 new deaths reported.

As of 5 December, nearly 265 million confirmed cases and over 5.2 million deaths have been reported globally.

In this edition a special focus update is provided on SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs).

An update on Variant of Concern Omicron is also provided and  includes the current situation in terms of the epidemiology and transmissibility, clinical severity, risk of reinfection and potential impact on diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.

As our understanding of the Omicron variant is evolving, these updates will continue as further evidence becomes available.

Source: WHO, 8/12/2021