Covid-19 in Latin America: grim milestones in deaths from coronavirus in Brazil and Colombia

(CNN Spanish) – Latin American countries are progressing little by little in their vaccination campaigns against covid-19, but this week marks two grim milestones.

Brazil exceeded 500,000 deaths from coronavirus and Colombia is close to exceeding 100,000.

Meanwhile, the Copa América has seen an increase in covid-19 cases.

On Thursday, the Conmebol Medical Commission reported that 65 tournament participants have tested positive for covid-19 since the tournament began last Sunday. It was not revealed which delegations or players tested positive.

Brazil

On Saturday, and amid protests against the president, Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil reached half a million deaths from covid-19, according to the Ministry of Health.

More than 17.8 million cases of coronavirus have been registered in the country.

Over the weekend, thousands of Brazilians took to the streets to demand Bolsonaro’s dismissal, in addition to more vaccines, and to remember those who died from covid-19.

Bolsonaro did not comment on the milestone of 500,000 deaths when he posted a video on social media Saturday encouraging police forces.

Communication Minister Fabio Faria, for his part, said: “You will soon see politicians, artists and journalists grieve over the number of 500,000 dead. You will never see them celebrate the 86 million doses applied or the 18 million cured (of covid-19) because the tone is always that of ‘the worse the better’. Unfortunately, they encourage the virus.

Colombia

Meanwhile, the Colombian Ministry of Health reported that deaths from covid-19 in the country reached 99,934 this weekend, just a few dozen of the 100,000 deaths.

With more than 27,000 new infections, coronavirus cases total more than 3.9 million. 3.6 million patients recovered by covid-19 have been registered.

As of June 19, Colombia had applied more than 14.7 million doses of covid-19 vaccines. Among these, more than 4.6 million have been second doses, according to the ministry.

Mexico

On Saturday, Mexico exceeded 231,000 deaths from covid-19.

More than 2.4 million new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the country, and more than 1.9 million recovered patients, according to the Ministry of Health.

Until that same day, Mexico had applied more than 39 million doses of vaccines against covid-19.

However, due to the increase in cases in Mexico City, the capital changed its epidemiological traffic light and as of this Monday, June 21, face-to-face classes in public and private schools are suspended.

Ecuador

Health authorities in Ecuador seized in Manta, Manabí province, more than 40 fake covid-19 vaccines that could contain seawater, according to a preliminary report from the National Agency for Health Regulation, Control and Surveillance (Arcsa).

The results of the analysis will be delivered to the Prosecutor’s Office to proceed with the corresponding legal actions.

Guillermo Lasso’s government seeks to immunize 9 million people in the first 100 days of the new president, who took office on May 24.

With information from Thaize Oliveira, Jaide García, Fernando Ramos, Marlon Sorto, Abel Alvarado, Rodrigo Pedroso and Marcia Reverdosa.