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| Coronavirus: What are the numbers out of Latin America? | Coronavirus: What are the numbers out of Latin America? |
| (2 days later) | |
| Coronavirus cases have been rising sharply in Latin American countries, contributing to record numbers of new infections being registered globally. | Coronavirus cases have been rising sharply in Latin American countries, contributing to record numbers of new infections being registered globally. |
| Brazil has had more than 2.6 million confirmed cases - the second highest in the world after the US. | |
| Mexico, Chile and Peru are also battling major outbreaks, and in the top 10 countries with the most confirmed cases. | Mexico, Chile and Peru are also battling major outbreaks, and in the top 10 countries with the most confirmed cases. |
| 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 in late 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 in late 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, from Central to South America. | Coronavirus has since spread to every country in the region, from Central to South America. |
| More than 4.7 million cases have been recorded, and more than 190,000 people have died, according to data compiled by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. | |
| The two most populous nations, Brazil and Mexico, have seen the highest number of deaths - more than 91,000 and 46,000 respectively. | |
| Peru has had more than 18,000 confirmed deaths. And Chile has had more than 9,000 people dead, although the number of daily cases has been coming down. | Peru has had more than 18,000 confirmed deaths. And Chile has had more than 9,000 people dead, although the number of daily cases has been coming down. |
| Ecuador recorded one of the earliest and worst outbreaks in the region, although daily deaths here have now dropped. | Ecuador recorded one of the earliest and worst outbreaks in the region, although daily deaths here have now dropped. |
| How big is the epidemic in Latin America now? | How big is the epidemic in Latin America now? |
| Daily reported deaths in many Latin American countries remain high, as they drop in most countries in Europe. | Daily reported deaths in many Latin American countries remain high, as they drop in 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The number of deaths in Brazil, Mexico and Peru has been rising sharply. In Brazil, there've been record numbers of cases reported. | The number of deaths in Brazil, Mexico and Peru has been rising sharply. In Brazil, there've been record numbers of cases reported. |
| But researchers say both cases and deaths may be under-reported. | But researchers say both cases and deaths may be under-reported. |
| For example, a study by the University of São Paulo Medical School estimates the number of infections in Brazil could be up to 6 times higher than the official figure, with the lack of certainty about numbers due to the low levels of testing. | For example, a study by the University of São Paulo Medical School estimates the number of infections in Brazil could be up to 6 times higher than the official figure, with the lack of certainty about numbers due to the low levels of testing. |
| How much testing has been done? | How much testing has been done? |
| Chile has one of Latin America's highest rates of testing - it's done around 82 tests per 1,000 people so far. | |
| But testing across most of the region has been well below some other parts of the world, according to the most recent figures compiled by Our World in Data, a UK-based project which collates Covid-19 information. | |
| Mexico has tested just over six people for every 1,000, and Brazil had tested nearly 12 in every 1,000 as of 21 July (the latest data available) - compared with more than 160 per 1,000 in the US (as of 31 July). | |
| And of the tests these countries are doing, very high proportions are turning out to be positive, suggesting that they are not testing widely enough to find all cases. | And of the tests these countries are doing, very high proportions are turning out to be positive, suggesting that they are not testing widely enough to find all cases. |
| What is being done to stop the spread? | What is being done to stop the spread? |
| As cases rapidly rose in Chile, the government tightened lockdowns across the country. | As cases rapidly rose in Chile, the government tightened lockdowns across the country. |
| 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 risks of the virus, but then caught Covid-19 himself. | Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the risks of the virus, but then caught Covid-19 himself. |
| 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. | But it continued to see both cases and deaths rise. |
| Graphics by Cecilia Tombesi | Graphics by Cecilia Tombesi |
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