Global COVID cases ebb amid testing blind-spot worries
After rising for 2 weeks, global cases declined again, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest weekly snapshot of the pandemic, but it urged caution about interpreting trends, due to reduced testing in a number of countries.In other global developments, the WHO today released its third strategic plan for battling the pandemic, along with a decade-long plan for improving genomic surveillance of pathogens.WHO raises concerns about drops in testingThe world's COVID-19 cases dropped 14% last week, compared to the week before, with decreases seen across all of the WHO's regions.
However, deaths rose 45%, primarily due to changes in how some countries define COVID deaths and retrospective adjustments from others.Overall, about 10 million cases were reported to the WHO last week.
The five countries reporting the most cases were South Korea, Germany, Vietnam, France, and Italy.The WHO noted that recent case rises earlier this month occurred despite reduced testing in many countries, which it says is a sign that the virus is still circulating at very high levels.
It warned that a decline in testing could lead to less robust data that makes it harder to track the virus and how it is spreading and evolving.
United States
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Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
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India
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Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
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Brazil
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Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
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United Kingdom
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Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
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Russia
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Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
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