Covid-19 is no longer a "global health emergency", according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The announcement, which comes three years after it initially raised its highest level of warning over the virus, is a significant step towards putting an end to the pandemic.
According to the head of WHO, the epidemic claimed at least seven million lives.
The decision to lower the degree of alert was made with the understanding that the threat still exists and that the emergency status might be restored if circumstances changed.
But which countries are still impacted? Here’s what we know about the latest new cases and deaths.
Which countries are worst affected?
Over 687 million people had been infected by the virus worldwide, and there had been at least seven million fatalities. The United States, India, and Brazil are the nations most impacted at the moment.
Data from the past week suggests the United States had 86,484 new cases, Brazil had 42,186, while India had 37,540 new cases.
The UK has reported 2,397 new cases this week.
Death rates around the world
Officials said the virus’ weekly death rate is just over 3,500 on April 24. On January 2021, the death rate was more than 100,000 people per week.
The US has reported the most deaths this week with 1,045 cases. Brazil’s rate was significantly lower with 279 deaths and India with 166.
Since the pandemic began, the UK has registered 224,106 deaths from a total of 24,581,706 cases. The UK’s exact death rate for the past week is not known.
Covid booster jab uptake slowing down in the UK
The Evening Standard reported the slowing down of the Covid booster vaccination in London on November 2022. According to Government statistics, London was at least ten per cent behind every other region.
As of October 26, just over a third 33.2 per cent of those 50 and older had obtained their autumn booster shot in London.
The BBC reported a similar situation in Lancashire around the same time. By the end of November, just over 50 per cent of individuals who were qualified, including the elderly, the most helpless, and those who provided care, had come forward.
