This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-52711458
The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: What are the numbers out of Latin America? | Coronavirus: What are the numbers out of Latin America? |
| (4 days later) | |
| Coronavirus cases have been rising sharply in Latin American countries, contributing to record numbers of new infections being recorded globally. | Coronavirus cases have been rising sharply in Latin American countries, contributing to record numbers of new infections being recorded globally. |
| Brazil has had more than one and a half million confirmed cases - the second highest in the world after the US. | |
| Other countries in the region, including Mexico, Chile and Peru, are also battling major outbreaks. | Other countries in the region, including Mexico, Chile and Peru, are also battling major outbreaks. |
| So what are the main trends in Latin America? | So what are the main trends in Latin America? |
| The first confirmed case in Latin America was identified in Brazil on 26 February, although researchers have said there are indications that there were cases there as early as January. | The first confirmed case in Latin America was identified in Brazil on 26 February, although researchers have said there are indications that there were cases there as early as January. |
| Coronavirus has since spread to every country in the region. | Coronavirus has since spread to every country in the region. |
| More than 2.5 million cases have been recorded, and more than 100,000 people have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. | More than 2.5 million cases have been recorded, and more than 100,000 people have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| That is fewer deaths than in the US and Europe, but both cases and deaths may be under-reported. | That is fewer deaths than in the US and Europe, but both cases and deaths may be under-reported. |
| Latin America's two most populous nations, Brazil and Mexico, have seen the highest number of deaths, more than 60,000 and 30,000 respectively. | |
| Peru has the sixth highest number of reported cases in the world, and has had more than 10,000 confirmed deaths. | |
| Chile is reporting thousands of new coronavirus cases each day, with more than 6,000 people dead. | |
| Ecuador recorded one of the earliest and worst outbreaks in the region, although cases here are now stabilising - but this is not the trend in many other countries. | Ecuador recorded one of the earliest and worst outbreaks in the region, although cases here are now stabilising - but this is not the trend in many other countries. |
| Peak not yet reached | Peak not yet reached |
| Daily reported deaths in many Latin American countries remain high, as they drop in the US and most countries in Europe. | Daily reported deaths in many Latin American countries remain high, as they drop in the US and most countries in Europe. |
| You can see the differing trends when looking at Brazil, Mexico and Peru compared with three of the worst-hit countries in Europe in terms of deaths - the UK, Italy and France. | You can see the differing trends when looking at Brazil, Mexico and Peru compared with three of the worst-hit countries in Europe in terms of deaths - the UK, Italy and France. |
| The head of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr Carissa Etienne has warned that coronavirus is spreading "exponentially" in many areas of the region. | The head of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr Carissa Etienne has warned that coronavirus is spreading "exponentially" in many areas of the region. |
| The number of deaths in Brazil, Mexico and Peru has been doubling roughly every three weeks. | The number of deaths in Brazil, Mexico and Peru has been doubling roughly every three weeks. |
| A study by the University of Washington has warned that Brazil's death toll could climb to 125,000 by early August. | A study by the University of Washington has warned that Brazil's death toll could climb to 125,000 by early August. |
| Dr Etienne has said "there can be no doubt our region has become the epicentre" of the pandemic. | Dr Etienne has said "there can be no doubt our region has become the epicentre" of the pandemic. |
| Experts say the peak of the epidemic in some Latin American countries could be some weeks away. | Experts say the peak of the epidemic in some Latin American countries could be some weeks away. |
| As daily cases continue to rise, there are concerns that healthcare systems could be overwhelmed, as has already been the case in Ecuador. | As daily cases continue to rise, there are concerns that healthcare systems could be overwhelmed, as has already been the case in Ecuador. |
| Pilar Mazzetti, who is leading the Peruvian government's coronavirus response, has said: "We're in bad shape. This is war." | Pilar Mazzetti, who is leading the Peruvian government's coronavirus response, has said: "We're in bad shape. This is war." |
| What is being done to stop the spread? | What is being done to stop the spread? |
| Mexico and Brazil have continued to take less severe lockdown measures than other Latin American countries. | Mexico and Brazil have continued to take less severe lockdown measures than other Latin American countries. |
| Both have given out guidelines, but have not imposed national restrictions. | Both have given out guidelines, but have not imposed national restrictions. |
| Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the virus, and has been ordered by a judge to wear a mask in public in the capital Brasilia, or face a fine. | Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the virus, and has been ordered by a judge to wear a mask in public in the capital Brasilia, or face a fine. |
| Marcia Castro, a global health professor at Harvard University, says that "the response in Brazil is far from ideal, and currently there is a lack of a uniform message coming from the leadership at different levels." | Marcia Castro, a global health professor at Harvard University, says that "the response in Brazil is far from ideal, and currently there is a lack of a uniform message coming from the leadership at different levels." |
| Other countries such as Argentina have imposed compulsory lockdowns. | Other countries such as Argentina have imposed compulsory lockdowns. |
| Prof Castro says it is, along with Uruguay, among the countries in the region for now able to manage the spread. | Prof Castro says it is, along with Uruguay, among the countries in the region for now able to manage the spread. |
| Peru had one of the first and strictest national lockdowns in the region, which lasted until the end of June. | Peru had one of the first and strictest national lockdowns in the region, which lasted until the end of June. |
| But it continued to see both cases and deaths rise. | |
| As cases rapidly rise in Chile, the government has tightened lockdowns across the country. | As cases rapidly rise in Chile, the government has tightened lockdowns across the country. |
| Chile has one of Latin America's highest rates of testing - around 60 tests per 1,000 people. | |
| But testing across most of the region is well below some other parts of the world. | |
| Mexico test around four people for every 1,000, compared with more than 100 per 1,000 in the US. | |
| Brazil also has a very low testing rate, and a study by the University of São Paulo Medical School estimates the number of infections could be up to 15 times higher than the official figure. | Brazil also has a very low testing rate, and a study by the University of São Paulo Medical School estimates the number of infections could be up to 15 times higher than the official figure. |
| Graphics by Cecilia Tombesi | Graphics by Cecilia Tombesi |
| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
| Send us your questions | Send us your questions |
| Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Twitter |