Covid Pandemic Report - August 2022
As of 18th August, the total global figure for people infected by Covid-19 stood at 594 million according to Johns Hopkins University. In addition to this, the recorded number who have died totalled 6,446,679.
67.4% of the world population has received at least one dose of a vaccine and 12.47 billion doses have been administered globally. Only 20.3% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.
The following table charts the worldwide 7-day average of cases over the course of the pandemic.
Data on a county by country level can be found here.
The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) remains concerned about what it sees as continuing unacceptably high numbers of deaths from COVID. While many governments of wealthier countries have all but abandoned coronavirus restrictions following successful vaccine rollouts, the organisation's director-general emphasised that the pandemic is "nowhere near over" and that ongoing measures should still be considered.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said sub-variants of Omicron continue to drive new waves of cases, hospitalisations and deaths around the world. Amid increasing COVID transmission and rising hospitalisations, Dr Tedros urged governments to "deploy tried and tested measures like masking, improved ventilation and test and treat protocols". "I am concerned that cases of COVID-19 continue to rise - putting further pressure on stretched health systems and health workers," he said. "I am also concerned about the increasing trend of deaths."
Among the variants and subvariants being tracked by the WHO is BA.2.75 - nicknamed the centaurus - which was first discovered in India in May. Additionally, 2 further offshoots of Omicron – BA. 4 and BA.5, are considered to be fuelling a global surge in cases — 30% over the past fortnight, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
There is an acceptance that the virus is spreading again — evolving, escaping immunity, and driving an uptick in cases and hospitalisations. This is a clear sign that the pandemic is far from over.
Pray:
For divine intervention and for God's name to be glorified even as each nation and government tries its best to vaccinate, prevent or control the emergence of new waves of infection.
For wisdom in government as leaders determine their ongoing responses to COVID, balancing a desire for normality with a need for appropriate protection.
That individuals, leaders and nations continue to focus on the needs of others rather than themselves, and that co-operation and compassion lie at the heart of the world’s response to the crisis.
We continue to release faith, hope, and love over the peoples of the world. May the Church seize this opportune time to manifest Jesus our Lord and Saviour to those who are seeking answers and purpose.
