In just five days, the global COVID-19 total jumped from 12 million to 13 million, with countries in the Americas reporting more than half of the world's cases and nearly two-thirds of the deaths, according to a news report from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota.
The global total stands at 13,177,000 cases, and almost 575,000 people have died from their infections, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.
At a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) briefing, Director Carissa Etienne, MBBS, MSc, said the region as a whole has reached 6.8 million cases, making up roughly half of all the world's cases. Also, she said the number of deaths is rising, and three countries in the Americas—Brazil, Mexico, and the United States—reported 77 percent of all deaths last week and are experiencing some of the world's deadliest outbreaks.
Vulnerable populations are among the hardest hit groups, Etienne said, noting that in Brazil, indigenous communities along the Amazon River basin are seeing incidence rates that are more than five times higher than the national average.
In other global developments, Canada and the United States are expected to extend a ban until at least August 21, according to Canadian sources. Due to COVID-19, the border has been closed since March due to a mutual agreement by both countries.
