[Breaking] Confirmed Cases 'Explode' in Brazil... WHO Says "South America is the New Pandemic Epicenter"

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out that Latin America is becoming the new epicenter of the pandemic.

Michael Ryan, WHO Executive Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said during a virtual press briefing held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on the evening of the 22nd (local time), "It can be said that South America has become the new epicenter of COVID-19. Many South American countries are observing an increase in confirmed cases."

According to data compiled from the statistics site Worldometer, the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in about 30 Latin American countries reached 650,000 as of that day, accounting for approximately 12% of the global confirmed cases. Especially as Asia and Europe show signs of stabilization, the proportion of Latin America continues to grow.

The most severe situation in Latin America is in Brazil, where the cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 stand at 314,769, and deaths have surpassed 20,000, reaching 20,267.

Based on Worldometer data, the number of deaths in a single day reached a record high of 1,188 the previous day, and new confirmed cases set a record with 21,472 on the 21st.