COVID-19 epidemiological update – 6 November 2024

Overview

During the four-week reporting period from 16 September to 13 October 2024, weekly SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent test positivity changed from 5.0% in the beginning week of the reporting period to 6.1% in the last week, as detected in integrated sentinel surveillance within the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). During this period, an average of 14 506 specimens across 90 countries were tested for SARS-CoV-2 each week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring several SARS-CoV-2 variants, including two variants of interest (VOIs): BA.2.86 and JN.1, alongside seven variants under monitoring (VUMs). JN.1 remains the most prevalent VOI, reported in 144 countries and representing 12.2% of sequences in week 41, a decline from 17.2% in week 38. Variants KP.3.1.1 and XEC are on the rise, with KP.3.1.1 constituting 51.1% of sequences in week 41, up from 45.2% in week 38, and XEC at 17.2%, increased from 8.9%. The prevalence of KP.3, KP.2, JN.1.18, and LB.1 decreased, while JN.1.7 was not detected in week 41, down from 0.1% in week 38. 

Thirty (13%) countries reported COVID-19 deaths, and 95 (41%) countries reported COVID-19 cases globally during the 28-day period from September 16 to October 13, 2024. According to the data provided, over 330 000 new cases were reported during the 28-day period, representing an 18% increase in the number of reported cases. At the same time, over 4500 new deaths were reported, representing a 25% decrease in new deaths compared to the previous 28-day period (19 August to 15 September 2024).

During the same period, hospitalizations and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were reported at least once in 43 and 30 countries, respectively. Approximately 25,000 new hospitalizations and over 800 new intensive care unit admissions were recorded based on the data that was available. New hospitalizations and ICU admissions decreased by 9% and 39%, respectively, among the countries that consistently reported these data over the past and previous reporting periods.

On 23 September 2024, WHO published the latest COVID-19 Vaccination Insights Report for quarter two (April-June) 2024. Globally, 16.6 million individuals (+6.4 million during quarter 2) have received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine across 79 reporting Member States (MS), containing 22% of the global population, in quarters 1 and 2. Among older adults, 9.4 million individuals (+5.4 million in quarter 2) received a dose across the 63 MS reporting on uptake in this group, corresponding to an uptake rate of 0.81% so far this year. Data collection for quarter three (July-September) will open on 15 October 2024.

In this edition, we include: 

• SARS-CoV-2 test positivity trends at the global and regional levels.
• The COVID-19 morbidity and mortality update at the global and regional levels.
• An update on hospitalizations and ICU admissions.
• An update on the SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest (VOI) and variants under monitoring (VUM).