Weekly update. Cases continue to rise in Europe while a new potentially more infectious variant has emerged in South Africa.
In total 3.94 million new cases were reported last week (up from 3.74 million) to a total of 260,868,783
Also another 51,209 more deaths were reported last week (51,636 last week) to a total of 5,206,544
Europe continues to climb, USA is rising as well but counts have dropped off for Thanksgiving.
The continents
Europe reported 2.69 million new cases (up from 2.19 million) and 27,107 more deaths (27,336 last week)
Asia reported 635K new cases (slightly up from 627K) and 9,908 more deaths (slightly down from 10,380)
North America reported 594K new cases (down from 750K) and 10,115 more deaths (10,164 last week)
South America reported 135k new cases (131K last week) and 2,737 more deaths (2,560 last week)
Africa reported 52.9K new cases (up from 23.6K) and 1,224 more deaths (984 last week)
Oceania reported 17.6K new cases (up from 11.9K) and 118 deaths (151 last week)
Corners of the world
USA reported 529K new cases (down from 687K) and 8,040 more deaths (8,165 last week)
India reported 68.2K new cases (down from 80.9K) and 2,851 more deaths (up from 2,189)
Brazil reported 64.3K new cases (slightly up from 62.4K) and 1,589 more deaths (slightly up from 1,476)
Iran reported 32.5K new cases (down from 42.3K) and 728 deaths (816 last week)
South Africa reported 27.0K new cases (up from 2,917) and 221 deaths (93 last week)
South Korea reported 23.8K new cases (up from 18.4K) and 225 deaths (164 last week)
Canada reported 19.7K new cases (up from 18.1K) and 137 deaths (195 last week)
Australia reported 9,653 new cases (up from 8,590) and 52 deaths (60 last week)
Japan reported 760 new cases (down from 1,125) and 11 deaths (19 last week)
Europe in detail
Ukraine and Russia are heading back down, a few other countries are stabilizing, France and Spain are rising fast.
Germany has broken the record highs, ahead of France and UK's previous peaks.
Global vaccination rate is now 42.48% (+1.07%)
Europe 57.56% (+0.78%)
South America 56.26% (+0.66%)
North America 54.45% (+0.70%)
Oceania 54.36% (+1.18%)
Asia 47.54% (+1.44%)
Africa 7.13% (+0.29%)
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/what-is-this-new-coronavirus-variant-in-south-africa-1.5682375
South African scientists identified a new version of the coronavirus this week that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country's most populous province. It's unclear where the new variant first emerged, but scientists in South Africa first alerted the World Health Organization and it has now been seen in travellers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the variant was linked to an "exponential rise" of cases in the last few days, although experts are still trying to determine if the new variant is actually responsible.
Cases are shooting up in Belgium and South Korea as well. Israel is at its lowest but maybe lower reporting in the last few days, sudden drop.
In a statement on Friday, the WHO designated it as a "variant of concern," naming it "omicron" after a letter in the Greek alphabet.
After convening a group of experts to assess the data, the U.N. health agency said that "preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant," as compared to other variants.
"The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa," the WHO said.
Locally cases are starting to rise again as well. We kept the kids home from school yesterday as more cases are getting detected at their school. An outbreak was reported on Tuesday. However the close contact reporting is a joke, all the close contacts didn't get notified until after going to school another day. So far it stands at 7 confirmed cases among the kids, 2 among the staff.
Locally 72% of newly reported cases are among the not fully vaccinated (Another 10% infected with first dose)
Ontario is now 75.6% fully vaccinated.
