Latin America and the Caribbean region passed 3.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro continues to tout hydroxychloroquine use.
Bolsonaro Talks of Hydroxychloroquine Again
Roughly a week after Bolsonaro tested positive of COVID-19, the Brazilian president took to social media to reveal that after he got infected, he was treated with hydroxychloroquine "with a doctor's recommendation."
Bolsonaro went on to reveal that following his treatment, he "felt better the next day." He further noted that the malaria drug worked for him even if it may be a coincidence.
It is worth noting that hydroxychloroquine is a drug that has not been proven 100 percent to be effective against COVID-19 as scientists are still studying the medicine's effectivity.
For the second time, Bolsonaro has tested positive of the novel coronavirus. He is expected to have another test taken in a few days but he insisted that he is in good health even after the diagnosis.
Bolsonaro is known for having downplayed the severity of the novel coronavirus, calling it a "little flu."
Meat Plants Helped Drive COVID-19 Spreading in Brazil?
Experts revealed earlier on Wednesday that meat factories in the country helped spread the novel coronavirus in at least three different locations as the plants remained open during the Brazilian outbreak.
In many Brazilian meat plants, employees work closely and mostly in refrigerated areas. Prosecutor under the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) Priscila Schvarcz noted that these conditions can be the perfect breeding spaces for COVID-19.
So far, Rio Grande do Sul is the hardest-hit area as it recorded 4,957 confirmed coronavirus cases among meat plant workers as of June 23. The said numbers are spread across 32 different plants in the state.
Of the infected people linked to meat factories, five meat plant employees have succumbed to the virus. The bigger problem is, 12 of the deceased are only contacts of meat plant workers.
Brazil Closes in on 2 Million Cases
On Wednesday, the health ministry reported 39,924 confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the national infection toll to 1,996,748.
Aside from the mounting new cases, there were also 1,233 lives lost to the virus on Wednesday. The national fatality toll now stands at 75,366 as Brazil remains only second to the United States in both confirmed cases and deaths.
Latin America and Caribbean Soar Past 3.5 Million Collective Cases
Meanwhile, the Latin American and Caribbean region just passed 3.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, as revealed by the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.
Brazil makes up for most of the confirmed cases, with other hard-hit countries Peru, Chile, and Mexico following behind in the most COVID-19 cases in the region.
There are 33 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The region now has a combined total of 3,524,908 confirmed coronavirus cases, 150,973 of which were fatal.
