More than 776.8 million cases and 7 million deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded globally since the pandemic began in early 2020,  according to the latest data released by WHO. 

While there are periodic waves of COVID-19 in some countries, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, largely circulates without clear seasonality and continues to infect, cause severe acute disease and post COVID-19 condition, the WHO says.

According to a WHO scientific brief, anxiety and depression increased by 25% in the first year of the pandemic.

The weekly average reported confirmed COVID-19 cases rose from 414 000 in early 2020 to 9.9 million in early 2022, peaking at 21 million in January 2022.

“Average weekly cases declined from mid-2022 at the time when there were significant gradual reductions in testing and number of countries reporting,” the WHO said. “By early 2023, weekly cases reduced to approximately 1.3 million, to approximately 246 000 in late 2023, and to approximately 70 000 in early 2024.” 

The majority (95%) of COVID-19 associated deaths were reported in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Increased immunity from infection and vaccination resulted in a significant decrease in deaths from the second half of 2022. 

The weekly average reported deaths surged from over 21 000 in early 2020 to 78,000 in early 2021, peaking at over 99,000 in January 2021. The average further declined to over 33 000 in early 2022, 13 000 in late 2022, 8000 in early 2023, 2400 in late 2023, and 1400 in early 2024.

The report said individuals aged 65 and older remain at highest risk of severe disease and death. From January 2020 to April 2022, the proportion of COVID-19 deaths in this age group fluctuated between 54% and 85%.

From April 2022, an average of 88% of monthly reported deaths occurred in this population.

“Children under 15 years old represent 0.2% of global reported COVID-19 deaths. Among these, 60% were children under five. While the overall number of reported deaths among children under 15 years has decreased since 2020, in line with reduction in overall deaths, the proportion of those under five years has shown an increasing trend in 2023 and 2024 accounting for 68% and 75% of all deaths respectively among under 15 years old,” the report revealed.

Hospitalizations

From January 2020 to November 2024, over 28.1 million COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported to WHO across 172 countries, about 5% of confirmed reported cases from the same countries.

In 2020, weekly hospitalizations averaged 155,000, peaking at 526 000 in early 2021. Increased immunity from vaccinations and infections led to a decoupling of cases and hospitalizations in 2021. In 2022, weekly hospitalizations averaged 140 000 despite rising cases. By 2023, changes in surveillance and reduction in testing and number of countries reporting led to an average of 40 000 weekly hospitalizations, dropping to 13,000 in 2024.

ICU admissions per 1000 hospitalizations have decreased from 245 in July 2021 to 69 by the end of 2023, rising to 191 in March 2024, then declining to 108 by November 2024. With limited reporting, it is difficult to interpret fluctuations in 2024. Deaths per 1000 hospitalizations also declined from 253 in June 2021 to 59 in August 2023, and further to 41 by November 2024.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on health delivery and healthcare systems globally,” the report said. “The pandemic extensively disrupted routine healthcare delivery such as routine vaccination, outpatient and inpatient care among others, leading to delays in diagnostics, elective surgeries and other non-COVID-19-related treatments.”

While the implementation of public health and social measures such as movement restrictions, lockdowns, wearing of masks, physical distancing were aimed at reducing the spread of the virus, these measures also had significant social, economic and mental health impacts, the report said.

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