Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[SvennoJ]

Weekly update. Cases continue to rise as uncertainty about Omicron closes down the borders again.

In total 4.29 million new cases were reported last week (up from 3.94 million) to a total of 265,161,704
Also another 51,530 more deaths were reported (slightly up from 51,209) to a total of 5,258,074

Europe is at its peak with some countries going back down while others are still building their wave.
The USA is still climbing after a break for Thanksgiving.

The continents

Europe reported 2.58 million new cases (slightly down from 2.69 million) and 27,293 more deaths (slightly up from 27,107)
North America reported 885K new cases (up from 594K) and 10,819 more deaths (up from 10,115)
Asia reported 599K new cases (slightly down from 635K) and 9,653 more deaths (slightly down from 9,908)
South America reported 134K new cases (135K last week) and 2,776 more deaths (2,737 last week)
Africa reported 78.7K new cases (up from 52.9K) and 929 deaths (1,224 last week)
Oceania reported 12.0K new cases (down from 17.6K) and 60 deaths (118 last week)

Corners of the world

USA reported 827K new cases (up from 529K) and 8,978 more deaths (up from 8,040)
Brazil reported 61.8K new cases (down from 64.3K) and 1,454 more deaths (down from 1,589)
India reported 60.3K new cases (down from 68.2K) and 2,321 more deaths (down from 2,851)
South Africa reported 48.9K new cases (up from 27.0K) and 157 deaths (221 last week)
South Korea reported 29.7K new cases (up from 23.8K) and 299 deaths (225 last week)
Iran reported 27.1K new cases (down from 32.5K) and 605 deaths (728 last week)
Canada reported 20.2K new cases (slightly up from 19.7K) and 139 deaths (137 last week)
Australia reported 9,614 new cases (9,653 last week) and 47 deaths (52 last week)
Japan reported 737 new cases (760 last week) and 10 deaths (11 last week)

Europe in detail

Germany, Poland, Ireland and Switzerland are at their peak, Denmark and UK are wandering further up again.
Russia, Austria and The Netherlands are heading back down while Spain and Sweden are the last to join the wave.

Global vaccination rate is now 44.02% (+1.54%)

South America 58.97% (+2.71%)
Europe 58.39% (+0.83%)
Oceania 55.45% (+1.09%)
North America 54.94% (+0.49%)
Asia 49.56% (+2.02%)
Africa 7.47% (+0.34%)

The good news is that Omicron doesn't appear to bring another wave of deaths with it, reported deaths remains low in South Africa.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/3/new-york-becomes-fourth-us-state-to-confirm-omicron-live
The World Health Organisation said Omicron has been detected in 38 countries but there are no reported deaths so far from the new COVID-19 variant.

It's still too early to tell, but maybe Omicron will be helpful rather than the next problem
https://www.wlwt.com/article/the-best-of-all-worlds-how-a-new-variant-like-omicron-could-help-diminish-pandemic/38426581#