A whole host of Latin American countries continue to register record-high increases in new COVID-19 cases, with the region reaching over 4 million confirmed infections as of this week.
Brazil Has Second Straight Record Daily High Of Cases
On Thursday, Brazil recorded a total of 59,961 confirmed COVID-19 cases, marking the second-highest single-day increase in the country following the previous day's record.
There were also 1,311 new fatalities from the novel coronavirus, bringing the national death toll to 84,082. The total infection toll now stands at 2,287,475, as confirmed by the Brazilian health ministry.
Of the total infections in the country, Sao Paulo accounts for most of the confirmed cases, with 452,007. Sao Paulo State is the most populated in the country and it also has the highest number of deaths, at 20,894.
Indigenous Communities In Brazil Hit Hard
Indigenous groups in Brazil have been decimated by the novel coronavirus, with one of the most influential leaders in the tribes hospitalized on Wednesday in Goiania.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), there have been 7,946 confirmed coronavirus cases among indigenous people in the country as well as 177 fatalities.
Aside from the hospitalization of an influential leader, the leader of the Sapukai Guarani tribe in Angra dos Reis, along the cost of Rio de Janeiro, also passed away earlier this week after contracting the disease.
Multiple human rights groups have expressed concerns about the health and safety of Brazilian indigenous tribes as many of the country's indigenous people live far from hospitals or medical institutions.
Before the calls for indigenous assistance, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro vetoed multiple laws that would have helped protect tribes from the novel coronavirus. Bolsonaro said the laws would have led to wasteful expenditures.
Mexico Reports Record-High Spike In New Cases
Mexico on Thursday logged a record-high increase of 8,438 additional infections, bringing the national infection toll to 370,712 cases.
Also on the same day, 718 people succumbed to the novel coronavirus, bringing the national death toll to 41,908.
The news came after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador revealed that some of his relatives have died due to COVID-19. It is unclear which of his relatives died from the disease.
Obrador, like Bolsonaro, has been heavily criticized for his government's handling of the crisis. Mexico is the fourth hardest-hit country in the world in terms of deaths.
Colombia Passes 220,000 Cases
In Colombia, the health ministry reported a total of 7,945 new coronavirus cases on Thursday. The national infection toll now stands at 226,373.
Aside from the new infections, the country also reported 315 new fatalities from COVID-19, marking the highest daily figure in deaths that Colombia registered since the outbreak.
The Colombian government has locked down around 5 million people in the capital of Bogota as part of the efforts to prevent further infections as the death and infection toll continues to climb.
