COVID-19 epidemiological update – 17 January 2025

Overview

During the four-week reporting period from 11 November 2024, weekly SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent test positivity changed from 9.5% in the beginning week of the reporting period to 8.6% in the last week, as detected in integrated sentinel and systematic virological surveillance within the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). During this period, an average of 56 313 specimens across 103 countries were tested for SARS-CoV-2 each week.

The World Health Organization is monitoring several SARS-CoV-2 variants, including one variant of interest (VOI) JN.1, and six variants under monitoring (VUMs). JN.1, the VOI, accounted for 16.2% of sequences in week 49. The VUM, XEC continues to increase in prevalence, accounting for 38.6% of sequences in week 49, and is currently the most prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variant. All the remaining VUMs are declining in prevalence except JN.1.18, which is presenting a slight increase at a low level (0.7%).

Thirty-one (13%) countries reported COVID-19 deaths, and 81 (35%) countries reported COVID-19 cases globally during the 28-day period from 11 November to 8 December 2024. According to the data provided, over 194 000 new cases were reported during the 28-day period, representing a 6% decrease in the number of reported cases. At the same time, around 2000 new deaths were reported, representing a 24% decrease in new deaths compared to the previous 28-day period (14 October to 10 November 2024).

During the same period, hospitalizations and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were reported at least once in 43 (18%) and 29 (12%) countries, respectively. Approximately 22,000 new hospitalizations and over 2000 new intensive care unit admissions were recorded based on the data that was available. New hospitalizations decreased by 1% while ICU admissions increased by 3% among the countries that consistently reported these data over the past and previous reporting periods.

On 20 December 2024, WHO published the latest COVID-19 Vaccination Insights Report for quarter three (July-September) 2024. Globally, 39.2 million individuals (+14.8 million during quarter 3) have received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine across 90 reporting Member States (MS), containing 31% of the global population, in quarters 1, 2, and 3. Among older adults, 19.7 million individuals (+8.9 million in quarter 3) received a dose across the 75 MS reporting on uptake in this group, corresponding to an uptake rate of 1.68% at the end of 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).