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20 Countries with the Most COVID-19 Cases in the World in 2023
Zarah Hamid
10 min read

In This Article:

In this article, we will be analyzing the history of COVID-19 and the counteraction against the pandemic, while covering the 20 countries with the most COVID-19 cases in the world in 2023. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can move directly to the 5 Countries with the Most COVID-19 Cases in the World in 2023.

The Global Pandemic: A Historical Overview

As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first cases of a pneumonia-like novel illness which had symptoms of fever and shortness of breath were identified among a group of residents in Wuhan in December, 2019. However, the pandemic was not identified as Coronavirus until the World Health Organization (WHO) used the term '2019 Novel Coronavirus' in January 2021. With cases rising in Thailand, Korea, Japan and the United States, this virus was declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and was shortly named ‘Covid-19’ by WHO. It was not until late 2020 that vaccines from global pharmaceutical companies came into play against the pandemic. While the vaccines were being administered, variants of the Coronavirus named alpha, beta, and gamma were reported in different parts of the world. The Delta and Omicron variants followed suit.  

Current Situation of the Global Pandemic

On September 29, WHO reported that more than 770 million Covid-19 cases and over 6 million deaths have been reported from all over the world, as of September 24. The new cases from August 28 to September 24 decreased by 55% as compared to the 4 weeks prior to the mentioned period. The total reported deaths also went down by 34% during this period.

On October 12, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported an update about the pandemic in the EU region. According to this update, the pandemic was most affecting older people, aged 65 or above, from October 1 to October 8. In half of the EU region, rates of respiratory illnesses and acute respiratory infection were on the rise, as a result of an increase in SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

The Disruptive Invention: The COVID-19 Vaccine

The vaccine for COVID-19 was a critical invention to address the global health crisis from the pandemic. Some of the primary and key manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines include Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN), and Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA). They are also some of the best COVID-19 stocks to invest in.

On December 11, 2020, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) joined hands with BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) to leverage its proprietary mRNA technology to create a vaccine for the global pandemic, first authorized in the US on an emergency basis. This vaccine is allowed for use at some level in most countries. Studies indicate that COVID-19 follows a seasonal pattern with rising numbers during fall and winter. On September 14, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) reported that its vaccine for the new season is currently available across the United States. This vaccine has been made to offer protection against several Omicron sub-variants since 85% of the current COVID-19 cases in America are caused by Omicron XBB strains. The company recently secured authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines for individuals aged 12 years and above can be ordered as a single-dose vial or a prefilled syringe. However, emergency use authorization has been given for those between 6 months and 11 years of age.

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