COVID-19 pandemic in South America explained

COVID-19 pandemic in South America
Map1:COVID-19 cases by territories of the countries of South America.svg
Disease:COVID-19
Virus Strain:SARS-CoV-2
Location:South America
First Case:São Paulo, Brazil
Arrival Date:26 February 2020
(ago)
Origin:Wuhan, Hubei, China
Recovery Cases:65,102,593[1]
Deaths:1,344,031
Confirmed Cases:67,331,547
Territories:14

The COVID-19 pandemic pandemic was confirmed to have reached South America on 26 February 2020 when Brazil confirmed a case in São Paulo.[2] By 3 April, all countries and territories in South America had recorded at least one case.[3]

On 13 May 2020, it was reported that Latin America and the Caribbean had reported over 400,000 cases of COVID-19 infection with, 23,091 deaths. On 22 May 2020, citing the rapid increase of infections in Brazil, the World Health OrganizationWHO declared South America the epicentre of the pandemic.[4] [5]

As of 12 January 2023, South America had recorded 67,331,547 confirmed cases and 1,344,031 deaths from COVID-19. Due to a shortage of testing and medical facilities, it is believed that the outbreak is far larger than the official numbers show.[6]

Statistics by country and territory

South America and Latin America

Summary table of confirmed cases in Latin America (selected regions as of 12 January 2023)! Countries and territories! Cases! Deaths! Recoveries! Population
(in millions)! Ref
South America67,331,5471,344,03165,102,593430
Mexico7,284,502331,3336,519,926128
Panama1,027,2478,5841,016,5774
Dominican Republic650,9904,384644,78511
Costa Rica1,171,8029,104860,7115
Guatemala1,214,86120,0331,182,22117
Honduras468,04811,08895,00010
Total67,619,7681,346,29065,632,715605

Timeline by country and territory

Ecuador

See main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador.

On 29 February 2020, the Minister of Health in Ecuador, Catalina Andramuño, confirmed the first case of the virus in the country.[7] The patient, a woman in her 70s, Ecuadorian citizen who resides in Spain, had arrived to Guayaquil on 14 February.

On 1 March 2020, Andramuño announced that five new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ecuador.[8]

As of 31 March 2020, there have been 2240 confirmed cases, plus 75 deaths linked to COVID-19. The Health Ministry also reported 61 deaths probably related to COVID-19.[9]

Ecuador was described in April 2020 as emerging as the "epicentre" of the pandemic in Latin America. The Guayas Province was particularly strongly affected, with thousand of excess deaths reported compared to the figure for a normal period.[10] It was reported on 17 April 2020 that 10,939 people had died in six weeks since the start of March in the Guayas Province, compared to a normal figure of 3,000 for the province.[11]

Falkland Islands

See main article: COVID-19 pandemic in the Falkland Islands. On 3 April 2020, the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands confirmed its first case on 3 April 2020.[12] Furthermore, as a precaution, the islands' government has closed all schools and nurseries until 4 May.[13] As of 30 April, all 13 cases have recovered.[14]

French Guiana

See main article: COVID-19 pandemic in French Guiana. On 4 March 2020, the first 5 cases were found the French overseas department and region of French Guiana,[15] and the first death was announced on 20 April 2020.[16]

Paraguay

See main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay. On 7 March the first confirmed case in Paraguay was announced, a 32-year-old Paraguayan who arrived from Ecuador.[17]

On 10 March, Paraguay suspended public school sessions and large-scale public events for 15 days due to the coronavirus.[18]

On 13 March, Paraguay suspended flights coming from Europe.[19]

Suriname

See main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Suriname. On 13 March 2020, Vice President Ashwin Adhin announced the first confirmed case in the country.[20]

On 3 April, the first death was announced.[21]

On 3 May, all remaining COVID-19 cases recovered.[22]

On 18 May, an eleventh case was identified.[23]

On 11 August, President Santokhi announced a series of measures requiring the use of face masks, reducing operating practices of restaurants, and prohibiting groups of 5 or people from gathering except for work, education, religious gatherings and funerals. A national curfew would be in place from 21:00 to 5:00 everyday until 23 August.[24]

Venezuela

See main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela. On 13 March, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced the first two confirmed cases in the country.[25]

On 14 March, Communication Minister Jorge Rodríguez informed that eight new cases were detected in the country.[26]

On 26 March, the first death was reported.[27]

Diosdado Cabello, vice-president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and president of the pro-government Constituent National Assembly announced he tested positive for COVID-19 on 9 July.[28]

Tareck El Aissami, the Minister of Petroleum and Omar Prieto, the Governor of Zulia also tested positive on 10 July.[29]

A member of the 2017 National Constituent Assembly and the Governor of the Capital District, Darío Vivas tested positive for COVID-19 on 19 July.[30]

Venezuela Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodríguez tested positive for COVID-19 on 13 August.[31] On the same day, Darío Vivas died of COVID-19 at the age of 70.

Venezuela is particularly vulnerable to the wider effects of the pandemic because of its ongoing socioeconomic and political crisis causing massive shortages of food staples and basic necessities, including medical supplies. The mass emigration of Venezuelan doctors has also caused chronic staff shortages in hospitals.[32]

Prevention in other countries and territories

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

This remote territory is uninhabited, save for small communities of scientists; the territory is also occasionally visited by small groups of tourists.[33] On 17 March tourist facilities in Grytviken were closed as a precaution,[34] with various other measures being implemented to protect workers on the islands.[35] South Georgia is open for visitors with a permit and is still virus free as of 22 April.[36]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coronavirus update (live) . 20 March 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129195657/https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ . 29 January 2020 .
  2. Web site: Where Is the Coronavirus in Latin America? . Luisa . Horwitz . Paola . Nagovitch . Holly K. . Sonnel . Carin. Zissis . vanc . AS/COA. 22 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322095058/https://www.as-coa.org/articles/where-coronavirus-latin-america. 22 March 2020. live.
  3. Web site: Uncollected bodies lie for days in the streets of Ecuador the emerging epicentre of the coronavirus in Latin America . Stuff/Fairfax . 4 April 2020.
  4. News: WHO declares that South America is the new coronavirus epicenter . The Washington Post . 23 May 2020.
  5. Web site: Ward . Alex . How South America became a coronavirus epicenter . Vox . 26 May 2020 . 28 May 2020.
  6. Web site: How Brazil went from carnival floats to mass graves. Photos show what it's like in the world's latest coronavirus hotspot. . Business Insider . 28 May 2020.
  7. Web site: Ministra de Salud confirma primer caso de #coronavirus en Ecuador. La paciente llegó desde España el pasado 14 de febrero . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200302043524/https://mobile.twitter.com/elcomerciocom/status/1233773816825946113 . 2 March 2020 . 29 February 2020.
  8. 1234238746012397568 . elcomerciocom .
    1. ATENCIÓN La ministra de Salud, Catalina Andramuño, informa cinco nuevos casos positivos de #COVID19 en Ecuador. Los afectados son del círculo primario familiar de la paciente. Y se encuentran con sintomatología leve y se mantiene la vigilancia permanente
    . 1 March 2020 . es .
  9. Ministerio de Salud Pública, Gaceta epidemiológica 030
  10. News: Coronavirus: Ecuador sees massive surge in deaths in April . 17 April 2020 . BBC .
  11. News: Ecuador's death rate soars as fears grow over scale of coronavirus crisis . Dan . Collyns . vanc . 17 April 2020 . The Guardian .
  12. Web site: A case of coronavirus #COVID19 has been confirmed in the #FalklandIslands. An inpatient in the #Falklands hospital who is in isolation has tested positive for the virus. The patient was admitted from the Mount Pleasant Complex on 31 March with a range of COVID19 like symptoms.pic.twitter.com/KNE5nRnCYf. FalklandsinUK. 3 April 2020. @FalklandsinUK. en. 3 April 2020.
  13. Web site: Falkland Islands: New stage in Government COVID-19 response. Merco Press. 26 March 2020. 26 March 2020.
  14. Web site: COVID-19 Public Update – 30 April 2020. Falkland Islands Government. 1 May 2020.
  15. News: Five coronavirus cases confirmed in French Guiana March 4, 2020 . Antigua Observer . 4 March 2020 . 5 March 2020.
  16. News: Un premier mort du Covid-19 en Guyane. fr. France Guyane. 20 April 2020.
  17. Web site: Paraguay reports first coronavirus case . 8 March 2020 . Deccan Herald.
  18. News: Paraguay Suspends Public Schools for 15 Days Due to Coronavirus. The New York Times. Reuters. 10 March 2020. 10 March 2020.
  19. News: Paraguay Suspends Flights from Spain Due to Coronavirus. ABC Color. ABC. 13 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
  20. News: Suriname confirms first coronavirus case, authorities will close borders . 13 March 2020 . Reuters . 13 March 2020 .
  21. News: Suriname confirms first death. COVID SURINAME. 4 April 2020. 14 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200414102016/https://covid-19.sr/suriname-noteert-eerste-covid-19-dode/. dead.
  22. News: Suriname free of COVID-19 positives border situation requires alertness (in Dutch). 3 May 2020. Covid Suriname. 7 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200507061736/https://covid-19.sr/suriname-vrij-van-covid-19-positieven-grenssituatie-vereist-alertheid/. dead.
  23. Web site: Again a COVID-19 infected person in Suriname. 18 May 2020. Covid-19 Suriname. 18 May 2020. 18 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200618090133/https://covid-19.sr/wederom-covid-19-besmette-persoon-in-suriname/. dead.
  24. Web site: McLeod. Sheri-Kae. 11 August 2020. Suriname Government Extends National Curfew to Curb COVID-19 Spike. 18 August 2020. Caribbean News. en.
  25. Web site: Régimen de Maduro confirma dos primeros casos de coronavirus . 13 March 2020 . NTN24.com . es . 13 March 2020.
  26. Web site: Suben a 10 los casos por coronavirus en Venezuela. Torrealba. Diego . vanc . 14 March 2020. El Pitazo. Spanish. 15 March 2020.
  27. News: Venezuela confirms first coronavirus death: official. 26 March 2020. Reuters. 27 March 2020.
  28. Web site: 9 July 2020. Venezuela socialist party boss announces he has COVID-19. 10 July 2020. AP NEWS.
  29. News: Venezuela oil minister El Aissami tests positive for COVID-19. Reuters. 10 July 2020. 10 July 2020.
  30. News: 13 August 2020. Governor of Venezuela's capital district, key Maduro ally, dies of COVID-19. en. Reuters. 15 August 2020.
  31. News: Close adviser to Venezuela's president has coronavirus. Associated Press. 13 August 2020. 13 August 2020.
  32. News: Venezuela Conducts 'Tens' of Virus Tests and Bans Europe Flights. 12 March 2020. Bloomberg. 13 March 2020. en.
  33. Web site: About SGSSI – Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands . Gov.gs . 30 March 2020.
  34. Web site: Precautionary Measures at Grytviken – Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands . Gov.gs . 30 March 2020.
  35. Web site: GSGSSI COVID-19 Update – Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands . Gov.gs . 30 March 2020.
  36. News: South Georgia remains free of COVID-19; Grytviken closed to visitors until next August. 25 April 2020. Merco Press.

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