The coronavirus disease COVID-19 continues to spread at the regional and global levels. As of 2 October 2021, the global cumulative incidence reached 234 110 530 reported cases and 4 788 697 associated deaths with a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 2%. Meanwhile, the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have reported a total of 15 828 093 cases, which represent about 6.1% of the global count, with 290 632 associated deaths (CFR 1.8%). 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 (5 611 700 cases; 35.5% of the Region’s total), followed by Iraq (2 007 227; 12.7%) and Pakistan (1 249 858; 7.9%). Islamic Republic of Iran also reported the highest number of total associated deaths (120 880; CFR 2.2%) followed by Pakistan (27 866; CFR 2.2%) and Tunisia (24 934; CFR 3.5%). The highest CFRs were reported by Yemen (19%) followed by Sudan (7.5%), while the lowest CFRs were reported by Qatar (0.26%), United Arab Emirates (0.29%) and Bahrain (0.5%).

During epidemiological week 39, the Region reported a decrease in cases of 18.6% when compared to the previous week (165 409 cases compared to 203 105 cases). Similarly, a decrease of 16.5% was observed for associated deaths (3514 deaths compared to 4210 deaths).

Syrian Arab Republic, Djibouti, and Yemen reported a relative increase in COVID-19 activity in week 39. The cumulative number of cases increased from 32 580 to 34 696 in Syrian Arab Republic (a 6.5% weekly increase), from 12 324 to 12 881 in Djibouti (a 4.5% weekly increase) and from 8891 to 9139 in Yemen (a 2.8% weekly increase). Djibouti, Yemen and Syrian Arab Republic had the largest relative increase in deaths.

In terms of testing, a total of 235 084 040 laboratory PCR tests were conducted since the start of the outbreak across the Region including 4 592 934 tests in week 39, which shows a 1.4% decrease compared to the previous week when 4 656 006 tests were conducted. The highest number of PCR tests were reported from United Arab Emirates (84.6 million), followed by Islamic Republic of Iran (32.4 million) and Saudi Arabia (29 million). United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are performing the highest rates of testing per capita (8465/1000 and 3704/1000, respectively). The average positivity rate for the Region is 6.7%. 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 306 437 571. Pakistan has administered the highest number of doses at 82 830 350, followed by Saudi Arabia at 42 265 528 and Morocco at 41 099 861. On the other hand the total number of administrated doses in Sudan is 1 704 840, in Libya is 1 586 055, in Syria is 533 949, in Somalia is 477 075, in Yemen is 356 173 and in Djibouti is 92 097.*

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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