COVID-19 pandemic in South America


The COVID-19 pandemicpandemic was confirmed to have reached South America on 26 February 2020 when Brazil confirmed a case in São Paulo. By 3 April, all countries and territories in South America had recorded at least one case.
On April 17, the highest number of cases and deaths was registered in Brazil, followed by Peru and Chile in the number of confirmed cases.
On May 13, it was reported that Latin America and the Caribbean had reported over 400,000 cases of infection with 23,091 deaths. On May 22, citing especially the rapid increase of infections in Brazil, the WHO declared that South America is presently the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.
As of June 26, South America has more than 2 million confirmed cases and more than 81,000 deaths. However, due to a dearth of testing and medical facilities it is believed that the outbreak is far larger than the official numbers show. With more than 2 million confirmed cases and over 70,000 deaths as of July 2020, Brazil is one of the worst affected countries in the world.

Pandemic by country and territory

Countries and territoriesCasesDeathsRecoveriesPopulation
Ref
Brazil2,442,37587,6181,846,641211.5
Peru389,71718,418272,54732.1
Chile347,9239,187319,95419.1
Colombia257,1018,777131,16149.4
Argentina167,4033,05972,57544.9
Ecuador81,1615,53234,89617.5
Bolivia71,1812,64721,47811.5
Venezuela15,9881469,95932.2
French Guiana7,514426,0470.3
Paraguay4,548432,9057.2
Suriname1,483249250.6
Uruguay1,202359513.5
Guyana389201810.8
Falkland Islands130130.003
Total3,787,998135,5482,720,233430

South America and Latin America

On 26 June 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South America surpassed 2 million while the United States had about 2.4 million. However, a month later on 26 July 2020, if we include Mexico and key areas in Central America and the Caribbean, then the total in Latin America has surpassed the total in the United States.
Countries and territoriesCasesDeathsRecoveriesPopulation
Ref
South America3,690,841132,9522,455,377430
Mexico385,03643,374247,178128
Dominican Republic60,8961,05527,98011
Panama58,8641,27533,4284
Guatemala43,2831,66930,15017
Honduras38,4381,0984,71310
Total4,277,358181,4232,771,901600

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

On 29 February, the Minister of Health in Ecuador, Catalina Andramuño, confirmed the first case of the virus in the country. The patient, a woman in her 70s, Ecuadorian citizen who resides in Spain, had arrived to Guayaquil on 14 February.
On 1 March, Andramuño announced that five new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ecuador.
As of 31 March, 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.
Ecuador was described in April 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. It was reported on 17 April 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.

Falkland Islands

On 3 April 2020, the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands confirmed its first case on 3 April 2020. Furthermore, as a precaution, the islands' government has closed all schools and nurseries until 4 May.
As of 30 April, all 13 cases have recovered.

French Guiana

On 4 March 2020, the first 5 cases were found the French overseas department and region of French Guiana, and the first death was announced on 20 April 2020.

Guyana

Paraguay

On 7 March the first confirmed case in Paraguay was announced, a 32-year-old Paraguayan who arrived from Ecuador.
On 10 March, Paraguay suspended public school sessions and large-scale public events for 15 days due to the coronavirus.
On 13 March, Paraguay suspended flights coming from Europe.

Peru

Suriname

On 13 March 2020, Vice President Ashwin Adhin announced the first confirmed case in the country.
On 3 April 2020, the first death was announced.
On 3 May 2020, all remaining COVID-19 cases recovered.
On 18 May 2020, an eleventh case was identified.

Uruguay

Venezuela

On 13 March, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced the first two confirmed cases in the country.
On 14 March, Communication Minister Jorge Rodríguez informed that eight new cases were detected in the country.
On 26 March, the first death was reported.
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.

Prevention in other countries and territories

South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands

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