The coronavirus disease COVID-19 continues to spread at the regional and global levels. As of 26 March 2022, the global cumulative incidence reached 478 147 578 reported cases and 6 119 214 associated deaths with a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of 1.2%. Meanwhile, the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have reported a total of 21 551 266 cases, which represent about 4.5% of the global count, with 340 310 associated deaths (CFR 1.6%). Most countries in the Region are in the community transmission phase.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, the country that has reported the highest number of total cases in the Region is Islamic Republic of Iran (7 148 789 cases; 33.2% of the Region’s total), followed by Iraq (2 317 747; 10.7%) and Jordan (1 692 485; 7.8%). Islamic Republic of Iran also reported the highest number of total associated deaths (139 971; CFR 1.9%) followed by Pakistan (30 345; CFR 2%) and Tunisia (28 323; CFR 2.8%). The highest CFRs were reported by Yemen (18%) followed by Sudan (6.4%), while the lowest CFRs were reported by Qatar (0.2%), United Arab Emirates and Bahrain (0.3% for both).

During epidemiological week 12, the Region reported a decrease in cases of 39% when compared to the previous week (40 867 cases compared to 66 934 cases). A decrease of 31% was observed for associated deaths (825 deaths compared to 1188 deaths).

Bahrain reported the largest relative increase in COVID-19 activity in week 12. The cumulative number of cases increased from 543 835 to 550 362 in Bahrain (a 1.2 % weekly increase), while the rest of the countries in EMR reported a relative cumulative decrease in reported cases. Yemen and Tunisia had the largest relative increase in deaths.

In terms of testing, a total of 362 965 967 laboratory PCR tests were conducted since the start of the outbreak across the Region including tests 3 264 185 in week 12, which shows an 11% decrease compared to the previous week when 3 648 325 tests were conducted. The highest number of PCR tests were reported from United Arab Emirates (146 million), followed by Islamic Republic of Iran (49.1 million) and Saudi Arabia (41.6 million). The average positivity rate for the Region is 5.8%. WHO recommends a positivity rate of around 3–12% as a general benchmark indicating adequate testing, which was achieved in most countries of the Region.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccination continues across the Region. The total number of doses administered so far in the 22 countries is 686 259 719. Pakistan has administered the highest number of doses at 226 203 802, followed by Islamic Republic of Iran at 145 265 161 and Egypt at 77 150 803. On the other hand, the total number of administrated doses in Sudan is 6 151 448, in Libya is 3 421 865, in Syria is 3 369 196, in Somalia is 2 395 219, in Yemen is 807 502 and in Djibouti is 165 554.*

Supporting countries in the Region

The regional incident management support team continues to coordinate the response and provide technical support to countries and partners in the Region in the areas of coordination and partnership, surveillance, laboratory capacity, clinical management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, points of entry according to the International Health Regulations (2005), research, health systems, and essential health services among others.

For more data from the Region, please visit the COVID-19 dashboard.

*The data on vaccination is obtained from a number of sources including media reports and country websites for ministries of health.

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