Uncontrolled growth in coronavirus infections in Brazil puts region in check

With Brazil exceeding 300,000 deaths from the coronavirus and the United States accounting for more than 30 million cases, the pandemic continued this Thursday marking the agenda of countries from different continents which, despite the efforts made in vaccinations of suspected mass, must use containment to stop the increase in infections.

In the Southern Cone, all the countries bordering Argentina – with the exception of Bolivia – are experiencing situations ranging from the concern of their authorities over the escalating increase in cases to the lack of control caused. by the health collapse, especially in Brazil and pessimistic forecast in Paraguay.

The maximum alert for all of South America due to its status as a neighbor of almost all countries on the subcontinent is given by Brazil, which after surpassing the 300,000 documented deaths on Wednesday could reach 400,000 in two months or even earlier if the government of President Jair Bolsonaro continues to refuse to adopt a national quarantine, in line with the warning issued today by health authorities.

The strongest pandemic

The worsening pandemic in Brazil this year, with a record number of deaths and the health system on the edge, has spread to the rest of South America, putting even Uruguay in check, considered so far. now as an example of controlling the virus.

“Unfortunately, the terrible situation in Brazil is also affecting neighboring countries,” Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), said last Tuesday, adding that it was “crucial” to refine the measures.

The agency highlighted a rebound in cases in the Venezuelan states of Bolívar and Amazonas, as well as in the department of Pando, Bolivia, and Loreto, Peru, all adjacent to the South American giant.

In Chile, meanwhile, nearly 14 million people, or about 70% of the population, have entered a new quarantine today due to a sharp increase in cases that has again put the health system under pressure. control, despite an impressive vaccination campaign, with which he leads all the statistics of Latin America.

After a 36% increase in infections in the past two weeks, health officials have decided to tighten restrictions in the South American country from today, which, since March 2020, had the longest periods of quarantine in the world, in addition to touches of nocturnal rest.

Authorities made the move at a time when, on average, around 6,000 cases have been recorded daily since the start of March.

The government of Paraguay in turn has indicated that a strict quarantine will apply in the country from next Saturday to Sunday, April 4, during which time people will only be able to leave their homes to buy food, medicine and cleaning products.

It was announced last night by the chief of staff, Hernán Huttemann, in a message to the country in which he stressed that the variant of the coronavirus originating in Manaus, Brazil, of which at least two cases have been detected, is already circulating in the the country.

Also in the region, Peru recorded a record 11,260 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in one day, its highest level since the outbreak of the pandemic and facing a second wave that does not give the system a break. health overwhelmed.

The 11,260 infections reported last night by the health ministry in the past 24 hours surpass the 10,143 on August 16, the highest figure so far since the start of the pandemic.

In turn, in the United States, the number of cases has exceeded 30 million, reports Johns Hopkins University today.

Infections reached 30,001,245 last night, nearly three months after the country worst hit by the pandemic surpassed 20 million, the US university said.

Deaths from the virus in the North American nation, most affected by the pandemic, are already more than 545,000, the university added.

Health officials have expressed cautious optimism in recent days, three months after the start of the vaccination campaign.

It is estimated that 75% of Americans 65 and over have already received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

The average daily mortality from the virus is below 1,000 for the first time since last November, and some states have already announced the start of vaccination for people 16 years and older.

In Europe, meanwhile, the situation is no better.

Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain have admitted growing cases in recent days as well as a frustrated search for more vaccines, which fail to arrive due to production delays , and, with nuance, began to order containment measures or restrictions on movement. to stop the proliferation of the virus, especially new strains.

New restrictions

The Polish government on Thursday announced new restrictions, including the closure of kindergartens and nurseries, as it goes through “the worst moment of the pandemic” and after reporting a new record of coronavirus cases.

Hungary also reported its highest number of deaths from the virus since the start of the pandemic and Ukraine a record of infections, while Iceland has ordered schools to close and banned gatherings of more than ten people. after detecting cases of the British variant.

In Ukraine, the health ministry reported 16,669 cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest since the start of the pandemic, and 362 more people have died from the virus during the same period.

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