News of virus

Uruguay, once Covid haven, suffers record infections and deaths

09-04-2021 15:25 Uruguay is grappling with one of the world’s highest Covid infection rates, with scores killed weekly, schools shut and a confused and weary population searching for answers.

Venezuela claims sanctions blocking vaccine purchases

08-04-2021 11:48 Venezuela's foreign minister claims that without economic sanctions against the government of President Nicolás Maduro, the country would already have purchased all 30 million coronavirus vaccines it needs.

PCR test confirms President Alberto Fernández has Covid-19

03-04-2021 16:47 PCR test confirms Alberto Fernández has been infected with Covid-19; President says he's "fine" during radio interview, hails Sputnik vaccine.

Vaccination plan advances but with difficulties, as second wave nears

03-04-2021 07:57 Confirmed cases now total 2.37 million, with more than 56,000 fatalities. To date, more than four million vaccines have been given.

Argentina tightens Covid measures as new virus variants arrive

31-03-2021 14:47 National and regional governments tighten health and sanitary measures against Covid-19 amid concerns over the arrival of new variants of the virus in the country.

More than 80% of intubated Covid patients die in Brazil

31-03-2021 10:27 More than 80% of Covid-19 patients who have to be intubated in Brazil have died since the start of the second wave of infections ravaging the country, according to researchers.

In Brazil, Covid is increasingly hitting the young

23-03-2021 10:10 There are fewer wrinkles and less grey hair among patients in Brazil's intensive care units as the country reels from a surge in Covid-19 that is increasingly hitting people under 60.

Thousands march through Buenos Aires to demand food aid, jobs

19-03-2021 00:57 Thousands of people marched in Buenos Aires on Thursday to demand food aid as the economy has battled the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Government extends health emergency for rest of 2021

12-03-2021 15:47 Alberto Fernández's government rolls over health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic until end of 2021.

Without fans, South American clubs lose more at home

08-03-2021 14:24 AFP analysed clubs' results across three first-division seasons in three countries – Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay – and found their home performance declined when fans were barred from stadiums because of Covid-19.

Cities in Brazil tighten restrictions amid record Covid surge

04-03-2021 13:53 Brazil's Health Ministry has recorded an average of more than 1,300 Covid-19 fatalities per day over the past week, the worst yet for the hard-hit country of 212 million people. 

UN: Pandemic pushed LatAm extreme poverty to 20-year high

04-03-2021 13:41 Number of poor people in the region rose by 22 million in 2020 to 209 million. ECLAC calls for "new welfare state."

Covid-19 shots on the market or in development

17-02-2021 13:56 With several Covid-19 vaccines either being rolled out or under trial, here is a rundown of the various stages of their development.

UN urges global Covid vaccine plan, warns of dangerous inequity

17-02-2021 13:42 Secretary-General António Guterres sounds alarm that just 10 nations have administered 75% of Covid-19 vaccine doses so far – and 130 countries have had none at all.

Argentina detects first case of British coronavirus variant

16-01-2021 16:24 Argentina has detected its first case of a British-identified coronavirus variant that appears to be more infectious, authorities said Saturday.

UK to ban South American, Portugal arrivals over Brazil virus strain

14-01-2021 15:47 Britain bans all arrivals from South America, Panama, Cape Verde and Portugal over fears of importing a new coronavirus variant from Brazil.

UK PM Johnson orders new lockdown, closes schools in England

04-01-2021 17:23 UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new strict coronavirus restrictions, closing schools and ordering a third national lockdown for England.

Chile reports Latin America's first detected case of new virus strain

29-12-2020 16:24 Health authorities responded to the news by announcing that from December 31, everyone arriving in Chile would have to spend 10 days in quarantine.

Pfizer says Covid-19 vaccine 90% effective in Phase 3 trial

09-11-2020 09:05 A vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech was 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 infections in ongoing Phase 3 trials, the companies announced Monday. 

An election for the soul of America

31-10-2020 08:43 With both the Democratic and Republican candidates in the United States declaring that this election is a battle to save “the soul of America,” it is time to ask where the soul lies.

by Robert Cox