The number of COVID-19 cases and the death toll in Latin American countries continue to swell and not dropping despite their strict measures, according to a recently published article. 


COVID-19 Cases and Death Toll in Latin America Continues to Swell

Latin American is one of the regions in the world that is hardly hit by the global pandemic. It led to the recession of many jobs and closure of big companies including Colombia's largest airline and the second-largest airline in the world, Avianca, which declared bankruptcy. Many countries in the region continue their fight to combat the negative financial and healthcare system brought by COVID-19. Some countries were overwhelmed and announced recently that their healthcare system is almost near to its limit. 

In a report presented by Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on May 21st, they predicted that over 30 million in Latin America will be pushed into poverty while 215 million across LATAM and Caribbean will experience the same. This is what many countries feared to happen. This means that most countries in the region seem not to lift strict measures. The World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization are also concern about the increasing number of cases in Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Chile.


Here are some situations of the countries in the region:   

Brazil

Brazil made headlines around the globe recently as they overpassed Russia. They are now the second country in the world with the highest number of cases. As of this time, the country has more than 414,000 cases of COVID-19 and a death toll of more than 25,000 according to worldometers. Despite the increasing number of cases, the countries capital and richest city where there are no beds of new patients anymore will reopen its economy and businesses this Monday. This is after Pres. Bolsonaro urged businesses to reopen because for him the virus is just a "little flu." Sao Paolo Governor said: "We will maintain the quarantine until June 15, but with the resumption of some economic activities."

Peru

Peru has one of the strictest measures in the region. They have 73 days mandatory national confinement, night curfews, close its borders, and more. Due to the drastic measures of the country, it left their economy semi-paralyzed. As of this time, the country has recorded more than 135,000 cases and a death toll of nearly 10,000. The country has the second-highest of cases in Latin America and which means that they are next to Brazil.

Chile 

Chile might be the next epicenter of the virus in the coming days. Chilean President Pinera recently announced that their hospitals or healthcare system is very close to the limit. This is due to the rapid increase of infections in the country. ECLAC previously reported that poverty in the country before the year ends is expected to be at around 9.8%. However, due to the present situation of the country, ECLAC reported on May 21st that poverty in the country before the year ends will be at 13.7%

Mexico

Mexico is also one of the hardly-hit countries in the region. The country's Health Minister said last month that the real number of COVID-19 cases in Mexico should be multiplied into eight to see the real figures. Other health groups who said that it should be multiplied into 30.  As of today, the country has recorded more than 78,000 cases and a death toll of approximately 8,6000. Despite this, Mexico is planning to reopen gradually its economic activities by early June. Pres. Obrador claimed that there is a sign that the number of cases has started to decline.

The number of cases in these countries is part of the swelling of 5.8 million cases around the world and a death toll of more than 357,000. While more than 2.5 million has recovered from the infectious and deadly COVID-19. 

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