WHO Declares South America New COVID Epicenter

The Washington Post reports:

World Health Organization officials declared Friday that South America is the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, citing the rapid rise in cases in Brazil but in a slew of other countries across the region.

The disease has been gaining momentum ion the continent for several weeks, but in recent days the number of cases has exploded, setting off public health emergencies in Ecuador, Chile, Peru and, most significantly, Brazil.

“In a sense South America has become the new epicenter of the disease,” said Michael Ryan, the director of the WHO emergency program. “The most affected is clearly Brazil at this point.”