04/28/2020 - 15:24
- Clarín.com
- World
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported on Tuesday that "there has been a worrying increase" in the coronavirus in Latin America and regretted that only last week the number of confirmed cases increased by more than 250,000, adding up to more than one million infected persons throughout American continent.
"More than 1 million cases of the virus have been reported in the Americas and as of April 27, 60,211 people have died from this terrible disease. There has been a worrying increase in Latin America," Dr. Carissa explained in a telematic press conference. F. Etienne, director of this organization.
Of that number of deaths, according to independent accounts, just over 56,000 correspond to the United States, by far the country most affected by the pandemic on the continent.
The head of PAHO explained that last week more than 250,000 new cases were reported in the Americas. Most of them in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador and Mexico.
Etienne added that all the countries and territories in the region have already confirmed infections with the new coronavirus.
In addition, the official found that as the tests increase, PAHO has confirmed what she imagined "for a long time": that the load of Covid-19 in the region is greater than what the health authorities have been able to report. the previous weeks.
Flu vaccination
"As testing increases, countries begin to update their numbers to confirm what we have long expected: the COVID-19 burden in our region is greater than what health authorities have been able to report in previous weeks," the doctor said.
Peruvian soldiers monitor a quarantine in a street in Lima to prevent the spread of the virus. / XINHUA
At a time when in many countries the vaccination campaign has been disrupted by COVID-19 Etienne launched a call not to delay these interventions.
"We must vaccinate to protect healthcare workers, the elderly and vulnerable populations from other respiratory infections, such as the flu and pneumococcus, which can lead to more hospitalizations," said the official.
These two diseases, Etienne noted, may also be "more difficult to diagnose in context."
A funeral for a victim of coronavirus, this Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is one of the countries in the region most affected by the pandemic. / AP
Upward trend
For his part, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO's deputy director, pointed out that Latin America was like Europe six weeks ago, as growth in the number of cases is still being recorded and this upward trend is expected to continue in the coming weeks. .
For this reason, he called on governments "not to let their guard down" and to strengthen the strengthening of health systems.
What is Coronavirus? How is it spread and what are its symptoms?
Watch the specialBarbosa also explained that, although temperature is not a key factor in the spread of the virus, the arrival of winter could mean an increase in cases in the southern hemisphere.
"During the winter period, when there is stronger transmission of respiratory viruses, there may also be an acceleration of COVID-19 transmission," said the PAHO Deputy Director.
Source: AFP and EFE