This article documents the chronology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in May 2021. The first human cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
Case statistics
Pandemic chronology 1 May Fiji has reported one new case of the Indian variant of COVID-19. There are 50 active cases (including 29 community transmissions), bringing the total number to 117. There are also 65 recoveries and two deaths. India has reported a record high of 401,993 new cases, bringing the total number to more than 19.1 million. 3,253 deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 211,853. Malaysia has reported 2,881 new cases, bringing the total number to 411,594. 2,462 have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 380,442. There are 15 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,521. There are 29,631 active cases, with 337 in intensive care and 176 on ventilator support. Singapore has reported 34 new cases including seven in community and two residing in dormitories, bringing the total to 61,179. Out of the community cases, three of them are linked to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital cluster. There are 14 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,765. Another death was later confirmed, bringing the death toll to 31. Ukraine has reported 8,549 new daily cases and 351 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,078,086 and 44,436 respectively; a total of 1,670,481 patients have recovered.
2 May Argentina surpasses 3 million cases. Malaysia has reported 3,418 new cases along with the first case of the Indian variant of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 415,012. There are 2,698 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 383,140. There are 12 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,533. There are 30,339 active cases, with 345 in intensive care and 175 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported one new case, bringing the total number to 2,618 (2,262 confirmed and 356 probable). Four people have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,568. The death toll remains 26. There are 24 cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 39 new cases including 14 in community and 25 imported, bringing the total to 61,218. Out of the community cases, 11 of them are linked to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital cluster. 21 people have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,786. The death toll remains at 31. Ukraine has reported 5,094 new daily cases and 160 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,083,180 and 44,596 respectively; a total of 1,676,265 patients have recovered.
3 May Fiji has confirmed two new cases, both of whom are doctors from the Lautoka Hospital. Malaysia has reported 2,500 new cases, bringing the total number to 417,512. There are 2,068 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 385,508. There are 18 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,551. There are 30,753 active cases, with 352 in intensive care and 186 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported four new cases, bringing the total number to 2,622 (2,266 confirmed and 356 probable). There are three recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,571. The death toll remains 26. There are 25 active cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 17 new cases including ten in community and seven imported, bringing the total to 61,235. Out of the community cases, eight of them are linked to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital cluster. 20 have been discharged, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,806. The death toll remains at 31. Ukraine has reported 2,758 new daily cases and 154 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,085,938 and 44,750 respectively; a total of 1,681,815 patients have recovered.
4 May World Health Organization weekly report: Fiji has confirmed seven recoveries from COVID-19. India surpasses 20 million COVID-19 cases. Malaysia has reported 3,120 new cases, bringing the total number to 420,632. There are 2,334 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 387,542. There are 23 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,574. There are 31,516 active cases, with 338 in intensive care and 181 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported one new case, bringing the total number to 2,623 (2,267 confirmed and 356 probable). There are two recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,573. The death toll remains 26. There are 24 cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 17 new cases including five in community and 12 imported, bringing the total to 61,252. Out of the community cases, all of them are linked to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital cluster. There are 17 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,823. The death toll remains at 31. Ukraine has reported 2,472 new daily cases and 166 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,088,410 and 44,916 respectively; a total of 1,689,630 patients have recovered.
5 May Fiji has confirmed four new cases (two border quarantine cases and two local transmissions). Malaysia has reported 3,744 new cases, bringing the total number to 424,376. There are 2,304 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 389,846. There are 17 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,591. There are 32,939 active cases, with 328 in intensive care and 185 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported six new cases, bringing the total number to 2,629 (2,273 confirmed and 356 probable). There are five recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,578. The death toll remains 26. There are 25 active cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 16 new cases including one in community and 15 imported, bringing the total to 61,268. 21 people have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,844. The death toll remains at 31. Ukraine has reported 2,576 new daily cases and 161 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,090,986 and 45,077 respectively; a total of 1,697,358 patients have recovered.
6 May Belgium surpasses 1 million cases. Fiji has confirmed its third death from COVID-19. That same day, Fiji confirmed four new cases (three local transmissions and one border quarantine case). India reports 412,262 new cases, bringing the total number to 21,077,410 million cases. Malaysia has reported 3,551 new cases, bringing the total number to 427,927. There are 2,709 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 392,555. There are 19 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,610. There are 33,762 active cases, with 354 in intensive care and 199 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported four new cases, bringing the total number to 2,633 (2,277 confirmed and 356 probable). There was one recovery, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,579. The death toll remains 26. There are 28 active cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 18 new cases including two in community and 16 imported, bringing the total to 61,286. 29 have been discharged, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,873. The death toll remains at 31. Sweden surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases. Ukraine has reported 6,038 new daily cases and 374 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,097,024 and 45,451 respectively; a total of 1,711,709 patients have recovered.
7 May Brazil surpasses 15 million cases. Fiji has confirmed seven new local transmissions. Malaysia has reported 4,498 new cases, bringing the total number to 432,425. There are 3,449 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 396,004. There are 22 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,632. There are 34,789 active cases, with 375 in intensive care and 211 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported one new case, bringing the total number to 2,634 (2,278 confirmed and 356 probable). There are three recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,582. The death toll remains 26. There are 26 active cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 25 new cases including four in community and 21 imported, bringing the total to 61,311. There are 33 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,906. The death toll remains at 31. Ukraine has reported 8,404 new daily cases and 379 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,105,428 and 45,830 respectively; a total of 1,731,162 patients have recovered. Vietnam reported its first death of a patient who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Golden State Warriors player Damion Lee tested positive for the virus.
8 May Fiji has reported 12 new recoveries. Malaysia has reported 4,519 new cases, bringing the total number to 436,944. There are 2,719 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 398,723. There are 25 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,657. There are 36,564 active cases, with 393 in intensive care and 210 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported six new cases, bringing the total number to 2,640 (2,284 confirmed and 356 probable). There are seven recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,589. The death toll remains 26. There are 25 active cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 20 new cases including seven in community and 13 imported, bringing the total to 61,331. Out of the community cases, two of them are linked to previous cases. Six people have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,912. The death toll remains at 31. Turkey surpasses 5 million cases. Ukraine has reported 8,710 new daily cases and 370 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,114,138 and 46,200 respectively; a total of 1,750,570 patients have recovered.
9 May Colombia surpasses 3 million cases. Fiji has confirmed three new cases and two recoveries. India surpasses 22 million cases. Malaysia has reported 3,733 new cases, bringing the total number to 440,677. There are 3,211 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 401,934. There are 26 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,683. There are 37,060 active cases, with 416 in intensive care and 216 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported two new cases, bringing the total number to 2,642 (2,286 confirmed and 356 probable). The number of recoveries remain 2,589 while the death toll remains 26. There are 27 active cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 28 new cases including ten in community and 18 imported, bringing the total to 61,359. Out of the community cases, five of them are linked to previous cases. 21 have been discharged, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,933. The death toll remains at 31. South Africa reported the first four cases of the COVID-19 variant identified from India. Ukraine has reported 5,372 new daily cases and 193 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 2,119,510 and 46,393 respectively; a total of 1,759,751 patients have recovered.
10 May Fiji has confirmed one new case and three new recoveries. Malaysia has reported 3,807 new cases, bringing the total number to 444,484. There are 3,454 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 405,388. There are 17 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,700. There are 37,396 active cases, with 434 in intensive care and 224 on ventilator support. New Zealand has reported two new cases, bringing the total number to 2,644 (2,288 confirmed and 356 probable). The number of recoveries remains 2,591 while the death toll remains 26. There are 27 active cases in managed isolation. Singapore has reported 19 new cases including three in community and 16 imported, bringing the total to 61,378. Out of the community cases, two of them are linked to the Changi Airport cluster. There are 20 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,953. The death toll remains at 31. Thailand reported the first case of the COVID-19 variant identified from India.