Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[SvennoJ]

Weekly update. Just as the Delta wave is at its peak in Western Europe, Omicron starts to spread.

In total 4.55 million new cases were reported last week (up from 4.25 million) to a total of 273,961,425
Also another 49,094 more deaths were reported (down from 53,654) to a total of 5,360,822

Europe's Delta wave peaked yet Omicron is already driving cases up again. The USA continues it slow march up.

The continents

Europe reported 2.63 million new cases (up from 2.49 million) and 26,187 more deaths (slightly down from 26,981)
North America reported 977K new cases (up from 887K) and 11,035 more deaths (11,163 last week)
Asia reported 554K new cases (slightly down from 568K) and 8,549 more deaths (down from 11,685)
Africa reported 263K new cases (up from 169K) and 955 more deaths (slightly down from 1,076)
South America reported 107K new cases (down from 126K) and 2,297 more deaths (down from 2,672)
Oceania reported 18.1K new cases (up from 12.1K) and 71 deaths (77 last week)

Corners of the world

USA reported 905K new cases (up from 827K) and 9,393 more deaths (slightly up from 9,210)
South Africa reported 164K new cases (up from 108K) and 217 deaths (140 last week)
India reported 49.9K new cases (down from 58.7K) and 1,769 more deaths (down from 4,874) (was ~2,000 extra added last week)
South Korea reported 47.9K new cases (up from 41.1K) and 461 deaths (391 last week)
Canada reported 39.6K new cases (up from 25.0K) and 135 deaths (140 last week)
Brazil reported 24.2K new cases (down from 55.4K) and 914 deaths (down from 1,279)
Japan reported 18.4K new cases (18.4K last week) and 7 deaths (8 last week)
Australia reported 17.1K new cases (up from 10.8K) and 50 deaths (52 last week)
Iran reported 16.8K new cases (down from 21.6K) and 380 deaths (537 last week)

South Africa is peaking, Canada and Australia are shooting up.

Europe in detail

UK, Spain and Denmark seem to be the first to get hit with Omicron. UK is closing in on 100K new cases a day.

Global vaccination rate is now 46.67% (+1.32%)

South America 61.71% (+1.17%)
Europe 59.91% (+0.63%)
Oceania 57.19% (+0.75%)
North America 56.29% (+0.57%)
Asia 53.07% (+1.80%)
Africa 8.38% (+0.45%)

Locally reported cases in Ontario have doubled in the last 3 days while Delta was already making a comeback. Omicron spreads very fast.

It's pretty much all over the world already, not much point in travel restrictions anymore, too late as usual
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/who-omicron-detected-in-89-countries-cases-doubling-fast-1.5712757

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries, and COVID-19 cases involving the variant are doubling every 1.5 to 3 days in places with community transmission and not just infections acquired abroad, the World Health Organization said Saturday.