(CNN Español) — As vaccinations advance, the world today registers more than 111 million cases and almost 2.5 million deaths from covid-19.
This is how the week of February 22, 2021 begins in the ten Latin American countries with the highest number of deaths from coronavirus, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
Brazil
246,504 deaths
10,168,174 cases
Brazil surpassed 10 million coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to data from the Health Ministry.
On Wednesday, Brazil’s Butantan Institute launched a campaign to vaccinate the entire adult population of Serrana, a city in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo, to test the efficacy of mass vaccination on rates of covid-19 infection.
However, vaccine shortages and a recent variant discovered in the Amazon are putting pressure on Brazil’s fight against the virus.
LEE: How Brazil bet on chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, unproven drugs to combat covid-19
Mexico
180,107 deaths
2,041,380 cases
On Saturday, the Undersecretary of Health and face of the strategic coordination of the Mexican government for the management of the pandemic, Hugo López-Gatell, reported through his Twitter account that he tested positive for coronavirus.
Colombia
58,834 deaths
2,226,262 cases
The Avianca airline announced on Friday that, through the alliance with the SynLab laboratory, it offers its passengers tickets that include the PCR or covid-19 antigen test service.
The service availability is in Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Manizales and Santa Marta. Sending digital results takes 24 to 36 hours, adds the newsletter.
Argentina
51,198 deaths
2,064,334 cases
The president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, reacted on Sunday on Twitter after the former Minister of Health, Ginés González García, resigned on Friday after the scandal about possible influence peddling for the vaccination of officials and friends of the ruling party.
On the other hand, the country authorized this Sunday on an emergency basis the use of the vaccine against covid-19 produced by the pharmaceutical company Sinopharm, according to the Government in a statement.
LEE: Argentine Minister of Health Ginés González resigns after allegations of possible “VIP vaccination”
Peru
45,097 deaths
1,283,309 cases
The Public Ministry of Peru reported on Friday that the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Crimes of Corruption of Lima Norte Officials initiated preliminary proceedings against “those who are responsible for the alleged crimes against the public administration for the use of the vaccines from the Sinopharm laboratory.”
LEE: Vacunagate: the «moral crisis» that could lead to the disqualification of officials in Peru
Chile
20,042 deaths
799,460 cases
According to Dr. Elmer Huerta, a contributor to CNN en Español and an expert in public health and health policy in Latin America, he says that Chile’s multi-pronged strategy has been very successful.
«Chile did not hesitate to make contracts with Sinovac, Pfizer or AstraZeneca. The key was that Chile realized very early on that it was necessary to close multiple agreements with vaccine manufacturers. In Latin America, Chile is one of the best positioned countries to do business and that has given it an advantage, ”said Dr. Huerta.
LEE: This is how Chile became a leader in vaccination against covid-19
Ecuador
15,536 deaths
274,673 cases
Bolivia
Medical units in El Alto during the arrival of 2 million masks and a military field hospital donated by China to Bolivia. (AIZAR RALDES / AFP via Getty Images)
11,441 deaths
242,292 cases
LEE: Bolivian doctors go on strike and demand repeal of the Sanitary Emergency Law
Guatemala
6,282 deaths
171,170 cases
LEE: This is the vaccination against covid-19 in Latin America
Panama
Nurse Violeta Gaona, the first person to be inoculated with the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine in Panama, receives her second dose at the Santo Tomás Hospital in Panama City. (LUIS ACOSTA / AFP via Getty Images)
5,742 deaths
336,521 cases
