Covid-19: PAHO alerts to cases in Latin America and Copa America risks

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) director Carissa Etienne said on Wednesday, June 9, at a press conference that Latin America registered 1.2 million cases of Covid-19 last week, with 34,000 confirmed deaths. According to her, the four world countries with the most deaths from the disease in the week are in the region.

“If the current trend persists, it will take years to control the pandemic in the Americas,” she alerted, adding that Brazil and Peru registered a drop in the number of infections, yet still at a high level.

PAHO’s assistant director Jarbas Barbosa argued that due to this situation, the region should have priority in receiving vaccines through the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Covax program.

Copa América

PAHO’s director of health emergencies Ciro Ugarte suggested that the organizing authorities reconsider holding the Copa America, scheduled to begin next Sunday, June 13.

“When effective risk management cannot be guaranteed, the organizers should reconsider or defer the event until more favorable conditions are in place,” he recommended during the press conference.