Following two weeks of low reporting, likely due to the year-end holiday period, the overall upward trend seen in earlier weeks has resumed, with just under 5 million new cases reported last week globally. The number of new deaths has also shown a similar trend, with over 85 000 reported last week, an 11% increase (Figure 1, Table 1). All regions apart from South-Eastasia showed an increase in new cases, with the Western Pacific, Africa, and the Americas reporting increases of over 30%. The Region of the Americas accounted for 51% of all new cases and 45% of all new deaths globally in the past week. The European Region had a lower increase in new cases (10%), however still accounts for over a third of new cases globally. In South-East Asia, the declinein new cases and new deaths seen since the end of November 2020continues. Although the EasternMediterranean Region is showing an 11% increase in new cases, new deaths have fallen by 9%, continuing adownward trend since a peak in mid-November. The African Region reported 175 000 new cases and 4300 new deaths, an increase of over 30% in new cases and new deaths, far exceeding previous peaks in July 2020. The WesternPacific also reported an increase of more than30% in new cases, while the number of new deaths also rose by 14%.

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