The World Health Organization expresses concern on Latin America’s early reopening after COVID-19 outbreak. The medical experts say it is too soon for the region to restart the normal life because the virus is still strong. Region records more than 8.4 million coronavirus cases and over 315,000 deaths, the WHO sire reported on Thursday.
WHO disagreed with the Latin American governments on their fast reopening, WHO Regional Director Carissa Etienne warned, speaking in a virtual briefing from Washington.
“Latin America has begun to resume almost normal social and public life at a time when COVID-19 still requires major control interventions,” said Etienne.
According to the WHO official, corona cases in Colombia’s border area with Venezuela have increased. As an illustration, the death rates are climbing in parts of Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Bolivia and Argentina. The continent has recorded more than 8.4 million cases and over 315,000 deaths due to COVID-19, the US-based Johns Hopkins University said.
Mrs Etienne stressed that too early reopening gives this virus more room to spread and puts our populations at greater risk. “Look no further than Europe,” she warns.
Meanwhile, Brazil got the new Health Minister, General Eduardo Pazuello, who had no prior health experience before taking the position. On Wednesday, during the appointment ceremony, President Jair Bolsonaro insisted on defending the use of an anti-malarial drug as a cure for the novel pathogen.
Mexico: Independence Day silenced by the COVID-19
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador performed the quietest Independence Day tradition in the country’s history Tuesday. The celebrations in the capital city were silenced by the outbreak, with a small gathering replacing the usual massive military parade Wednesday.
Lopez Obrador pronounced 20 “vivas” in which he celebrated “freedom, democracy and sovereignty” and “hope for the future.” Independence Day is formally marked on Sept. 16 but has been celebrated the night before for more than a century.
As of Thursday, Mexico has over 680,000 cases and almost 72,000 deaths, the fourth-highest number in the world.
