Since then, similar scenes have played out across Latin America, which has seen an explosive spread of the coronavirus. In Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city, coffins were fashioned from cardboard boxes as bodies were left uncollected. In the Chilean capital Santiago, public hospitals were overwhelmed as lockdown was eased too soon.
The head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne, said this week: "The region of the America is clearly the current epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic."
There are many reasons for Covid-19's outsize impact on Latin America: high levels of inequality, the vast "gray" economy of informal workers, a lack of sanitation in crowded urban slums, as well as slow and uneven responses by governments.
Alejandro Gaviria, a former Colombian health minister, told CNN: "Latin America is very heterogeneous. In some cities, health infrastructure is similar to what you find in developed countries; in rural areas, infrastructure is poor in general. It is like having Europe and Africa in the same continent."
Latin American states have had dramatically different experiences with Covid-19. Uruguay, which has a well-funded public health system, embarked on an aggressive tracking and testing program when the pandemic arrived. Despite a change of government in the middle of the crisis, it has had a consistent policy on lockdown. Nearly 20% of the population downloaded a government app with guidance on the virus.
Paraguay, which is much poorer than Uruguay, appears to have benefited from an early lockdown. It also enforced quarantine measures for people entering the country from Brazil, the epicenter of infections in Latin America.
Crowded living conditions in poorer urban areas, where basic hygiene and social distancing are next to impossible, threaten the region with a growing tide of infections. As Dr. Marcos Espinal, chief of the Department of Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis at PAHO, told CNN: "In the barrios of Lima it's going to be very difficult to do social distancing."
Espinal noted that in some countries only a third of the population have a fridge, meaning people must shop daily.
Low Investment
Gaviria says there are many differences between countries, "but most people have access to some type of care. In Colombia, for example, coverage is close to 100%."
Quality is a different issue, though, he says -- a point echoed by Espinal at PAHO. All but five or six governments fall well short of the WHO target of spending 6% of GDP on health, he says. Peru, for example, spends 3.3%.
Some Amazon towns in Brazil are more than 500 kilometers from the nearest ICU bed. In 2016, there were fewer than three beds per 100,000 inhabitants in some northern states in Brazil, but more than 20 beds per 100,000 in the wealthier south-east. The PAHO has warned that the region won't overcome the virus unless it improves care for marginalized communities, such as indigenous peoples in the Amazon. CNN reported a surge of infections this week among the Xavante people in the north-east of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso.
Coronavirus is just one of multiple health crises in Latin America. Studies shown that poorer people in the region have higher levels of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease, all of which make them more vulnerable to Covid-19. This is especially problematic in Mexico and Brazil.
Fabiana Ribeiro, a Brazilian researcher currently at the University of Luxembourg, told CNN that a recent study showed the lowest survival rates were for rural patients of 68 and older, and for patients who were Black, illiterate or had previous conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
The winter months in the southern hemisphere bring other sicknesses, including flu and pneumonia. Francesco Rocca, president of the International Red Cross, said this week that Latin America's health emergency could worsen "with the arrival of the southern winter, the flu season in South America, and especially the hurricane season in the Caribbean."
Some governments -- Chile for example -- have warned private providers that they may take over beds as public hospitals buckle under the strain. Gaviria notes that in Colombia the government now controls access to ICU beds in both the private and public sectors -- "and decide where each new patient should go. They want to avoid rationing based on type of insurance or financial considerations."
The Pan American Health Organization has said that in the coming months robust testing and tracing programs will be critical. There are a few promising signs -- such as the mobile teams in Costa Rica checking on infections and quarantine. And in much of the region there is already a large network of labs established to test for flu that are being mobilized.
But testing capacity is hugely variable across the region. As of June 29, Chile had done nearly 5,800 tests per 100,000 population, according to the PAHO. Panama had done just under 3,000. But Brazil had done 230 -- and Guatemala 45.
"In Nicaragua, we don't even know how many tests are being done," says Espinal.
The impact of coronavirus in Latin America is likely to leave deep scars. The World Bank believes that more than 50 million people will see their incomes fall below the $5.50 a day poverty line. Some economists fear the economic damage may be on a par with the "lost decade" of the 1980s.
In the midst of a deep recession that may shrink the region's economy by one-tenth this year, the necessary investment in public health may not materialize. Espinal thinks that would be a big mistake. "There's no way," he told CNN, "countries can justify continuing investing at the same level even if the economy suffers."
Alejandro Gaviria, Colombia's former health minister and now rector of the University of the Andes, is apprehensive about what the rest of 2020 will bring. "Three problems overlap," he says, "a growing pandemic, a social devastation and an increasing fatigue with lockdowns. New lockdowns will only be possible with strict and repressive enforcement measures."
View post:
Latin America sees half of all new Covid-19 infections as health systems flounder - CNN
- Let's hear scientists with different Covid-19 views, not attack them - STAT [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Why are more men dying from COVID-19? - Livescience.com [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Doctors find more cases of 'COVID toes' in dermatological registry. Here's what they learned. - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- North Dakota reports 24th COVID-19 death as drive-up testing is underway in Bismarck - Bismarck Tribune [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- WHO and European Investment Bank strengthen efforts to combat COVID-19 and build resilient health systems to face future pandemics - World Health... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- COVID-19: Could Europe's countries be flattening the curve? - World Economic Forum [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Nine new COVID-19 deaths reported in NH Friday - The Union Leader [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 1 May 2020 - World Health Organization [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Where The Latest COVID-19 Models Think We're Headed And Why They Disagree - FiveThirtyEight [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- US consumers rush to buy meat amid concerns over Covid-19 shortages - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- The effect of human mobility and control measures on the COVID-19 epidemic in China - Science Magazine [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Gov. Kate Brown Lays Out COVID-19 Testing And Contact Tracing As Keys To Reopening Oregon - OPB News [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Britons will suffer health problems from Covid-19 for years, warn doctors - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Congress is investigating cruise ship company Carnival over COVID-19 outbreaks - The Verge [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- COVID-19 death reported in Dakota County Saturday; believed to be Tyson worker - Sioux City Journal [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Antibody, Antigen And PCR Tests For COVID-19: Know The Differences : Shots - Health News - NPR [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Russia now has second-highest rate of Covid-19 spread as other countries ease restrictions - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- New Hanover County tests more than 180 people for COVID-19 in first week - WWAY NewsChannel 3 [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- A service trip to Peru offers lessons for treating Covid-19 in the US - STAT [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- How Long Does COVID-19 Coronavirus Live On Clothes? How To Wash Them - Forbes [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 2 May - World Economic Forum [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Results of Completed Antibody Testing Study of 15000 People Showing 12.3 Percent of... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Coronavirus Update (Live): 3,173,442 Cases and ... - zonix.net [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- How Patients Die After Contracting COVID-19, The New ... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Coronavirus gets official name from WHO: COVID-19 [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Symptoms and causes ... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Mick Jagger and Will Smith to perform in India Covid-19 concert - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Where did Covid-19 come from? What we know about its origins - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Apple and Google release first seed of COVID-19 exposure notification API for contact tracing app developers - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- IDPH reports one McHenry County COVID-19 death Saturday, bringing total to 39 - Northwest Herald [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Poor air quality has been linked to Covid-19 impacts. Trump's EPA is still limiting pollution restrictions. - CNN [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Janesville hospitals hoping to add on-site COVID-19 test processing - Janesville Gazette [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- After Covid-19: How will a socially distanced high street actually work? - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Drive Thru Covid-19 Testing Hosted in Cleveland - WDEF News 12 [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Majority of Alexandria COVID-19 deaths were in long-term care sites, as city seeks better pay, benefits for workers - WTOP [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Covid-19 in prisons and meatpacking plants shed a light on Americas moral failures - Vox.com [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- While the west fixates on Covid-19, vulnerable countries pay the price - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Anger as Italy slowly emerges from long Covid-19 lockdown - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- The Health Department confirms 22 new cases of COVID-19 - ConchoValleyHomepage.com [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- 50th COVID-19 death reported in WV - WSAZ-TV [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Illinois Seeing More and More COVID-19 Cases as Testing Continues to Increase - WTTW News [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- COVID-19: Why Does the Disease's Name Matter? | Time [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 1 May - World Economic Forum [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- More than 300,000 UK smokers may have quit owing to Covid-19 fears - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- How Cybercriminals are Weathering COVID-19 - Krebs on Security [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- You don't need an appointment to get tested for COVID-19 at this site on Monday - KMOV.com [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- More than 1 Million People Recover from COVID-19 : Coronavirus Live Updates - dineshr [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Employers Could Terminate Your 401(k) Plan Due to COVID-19. What to Do if It Happens. - The Motley Fool [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Port Huron offering city employees voluntary furloughs in wake of COVID-19 - The Times Herald [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Greater Lansing sees one more COVID-19 case and no further deaths - Lansing State Journal [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- These Scientists Saw COVID-19 Coming. Now They're Trying to Stop the Next Pandemic Before It Starts. - Mother Jones [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Museum of Covid-19: the story of the crisis told through everyday objects - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- No new COVID-19 deaths reported in Oregon - KGW.com [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- The roads into this New Mexico town remain closed as lockdown is extended to slow Covid-19 outbreak - CNN [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- New Zealand records first day with no new Covid-19 cases since before lockdown - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic - ny.gov [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Travel - The indigenous communities that predicted Covid-19 - BBC News [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Covid-19s Race and Class Warfare - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- The Covid-19 Riddle: Why Does the Virus Wallop Some Places and Spare Others? - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- Singapore Was Praised For Controlling Coronavirus. Now It Has The Most Cases In Southeast Asia : Goats and Soda - NPR [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2020]
- ICUs Transformed To Care For COVID-19 Patients : Shots - Health News - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Family devastated after father dies of COVID-19 can only comfort mother from a distance - INFORUM [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- One of Trumps personal valets tests positive for Covid-19 - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Clinical trials press on for conditions other than COVID-19. Will the pandemic's effects sneak into their data? - Science Magazine [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Medical delivery drones are helping fight COVID-19 in Africa, and soon the US - World Economic Forum [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- How Lyft intends to navigate and survive COVID-19 - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- How a New Mexico hospital rebelled against its bosses as Covid-19 hit - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Tell the Stories of the New Yorkers Lost to COVID-19 - THE CITY [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- COVID-19 update: South Dakota death toll up to 31, active cases at 846 as 698 new test results announced - KELOLAND.com [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Covid-19 Parties Probably Didnt Involve Intentional Spread - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Is It COVID-19 Or Something Else? What Experts Are Learning About Symptoms : Goats and Soda - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- China Says It Contained COVID-19. Now It Fights To Control The Story - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- COVID-19 Is The End Of The Higher Education Buffet - Forbes [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Covid-19 taking toll on blues community - CNN [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- U.S. Field Hospitals Stand Down, Most Without Treating Any COVID-19 Patients - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Even for a nurse who has dealt with infectious diseases, COVID-19 is scary; National Nurses Week - PennLive [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Mental health care will undergo a revolution post COVID-19 - World Economic Forum [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Mystery Inflammatory Syndrome In Kids And Teens Likely Linked To COVID-19 - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- Do Antibodies Against The Novel Coronavirus Prevent Reinfection? : Shots - Health News - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]
- 'This Is ... Personal': After Surviving COVID-19, A Mom And Daughter Mourn Loved Ones - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2020]