Covid-19 death toll in Latin America surpasses 250,000

It has been reported on Thursday that the number of reported COVID-19 deaths in Latin America have crossed the 250,000 mark as the region for now is the worst hit in the world, with brazil which is the most affected in that area reportedly recording 1,204 deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry.

Reuters tally over the past week show that the region has reported more than 3,000 deaths a day, with the daily caseloads on the rise in Peru, Colombia and Argentina.

As at today, Brazil is battling the world’s second largest outbreak, behind only the United States, with the virus killing more than 112,000 people in Latin America’s largest nation.

The South American continent has a population of more than 646 million according to the World Bank compared with the 330 million in the United States, which has recorded more than 173,000 novel coronavirus deaths, according to the Reuters tally.

Mexico which follows as the third highest death toll in the world, reported 6,775 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and 625 additional fatalities on Thursday, bringing the total to 543,806 cases and 59,106 deaths.

Recall that Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian President has drawn sharp criticism from health experts for his handling of the crisis. He has on many occasions downplayed the seriousness of the virus, dismissed the need for social distancing and urged businesses to reopen.

ALSO READ: British High Commission announces resumption of Application centers in Nigeria

There are, however, small signs the worst may be over for the current outbreak in Brazil, with the Health Ministry saying on Wednesday that the spread of coronavirus could be about to slow.

Neighboring Argentina posted a daily record 8,225 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday as it struggles to slow the spread of the virus after easing lockdown restrictions. The country now has a total of 320,884 cases and 6,517 fatalities, health ministry data show.