To protect soccer players for their upcoming tournaments, Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac will donate 50,000 doses of its coronavirus vaccine to the South American soccer confederation or CONMEBOL.

One of FIFA's six continental confederations, the CONMEBOL, announced on Tuesday that the vaccines will be used to inoculate players before the 47th edition of the Copa América in June and for other regional tournaments.

According to Associated Press, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez emphasized in a statement that the donation is a huge step, not only for the organization but in beating the COVID-19 pandemic overall. He also added that despite the vaccination, they will not be careless and continue to impose proper safety protocols.

Moreover, the soccer body also stated that they are the first confederation to receive a vaccine for widespread immunization. The details regarding the prioritization of the inoculation and its date are still not available.

CONMEBOL also mentioned that Uruguay President Luis Lacalle Pou played a crucial role by mediating and eventually completing the said deal. The confederation also emphasized that the donation is of great importance to South American soccer.

Dominguez also thanked the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac for understanding that the sport of soccer is a fundamental activity, not only for the economy but also for the culture of the country. He also pointed out its importance in the physical and mental health of South American people, The New India Express reported.

Despite some questions in the past, Chinese officials stated that they are looking for ways to boost the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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COVID-19 Outbreak in South America

On the other hand, South America is currently the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are still on the rise. The death toll of Brazil, which is second to the United States, has quickly approached the 360,000-mark.

On Monday, Brazil's seven-day average deaths hit a new record with 3,124. Several state championships had been suspended in the country due to the collapse of their health care system.

Meanwhile, not only Brazil is suffering from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Other countries in South America are also witnessing a rise in the cases of the virus. Many health analysts in the region claimed that the potential more contagious variant came from Brazil.

Furthermore, the CONMEBOL president mentioned that they will keep working responsibly. He also cited the importance of safety in finishing their previous tournaments without setbacks and without changing their formats, The Federal reported.

The Copa America this year will take place in Colombia and Argentina between June 13 to July 10. On the other hand, the 'Copa Libertadores' is already underway.

 On Tuesday, the Brazilian soccer confederation has reported that there is a coronavirus outbreak within their women's national team. They have confirmed that three of their players and two members from their coaching staff have tested positive with COVID-19. The confederation also mentioned that they are currently in Teresopolis, which is just outside Rio de Janeiro.

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