Covid-19: Concerns rise as cases expand rapidly in South America

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 369; p. m1926
• Main Author: de Oliveira Andrade, Rodrigo
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 13.05.2020
• Subjects: Cities; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Health services; Medical personnel; Pandemics; Population; Public health; Social distancing; Social interactions; Social isolation; South America; New York; Ecuador; United States > US; Brazil; Paraguay; Chile
• ISSN: 1756-1833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m1926

Scientists have warned that countries in South America should expect a rise in cases and deaths from covid-19 in the next month as the pandemic on the continent is about six weeks behind that in Europe in terms of transmission of the virus and infection rate. To date around 320 000 cases and almost 17 000 deaths have been reported in the region. On 12 May the Pan American Health Organization said that between 4 and 11 May more than 96 000 additional cases and 5552 deaths were reported in South America, a 45% relative increase in cases and a 51% relative increase in deaths when compared with the previous week. PAHO’s director, Carissa Etienne, said that health systems in large cities such as Lima and Rio de Janeiro were quickly becoming overwhelmed by covid-19. But the pandemic also affected “smaller towns and remote communities, including indigenous areas, where access to healthcare is challenging,” she said. Etienne called on countries to tackle their health, social, and economic emergencies, saying that she was “deeply concerned” by the rapid expansion …