Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Latin America

By Sinan Dogan

ANKARA (AA) - Two South American countries reported more cases and deaths Wednesday from the novel coronavirus as the continent continues to grapple with the pandemic.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Peru rose to 76,306 with 4,247 recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

A total of 2,169 people have died from the virus, including 112 in the past 24 hours.

Some 24,324 people have recovered.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Ecuador climbed to 2,334 with seven fatalities in the past 24 hours, according to local media reports.

The number of confirmed cases in the country rose by 67 to 30,486 while 3,433 people have recovered.

After originating in Wuhan, China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, with Europe and the US currently the worst hit.

The pandemic has killed more than 296,700 people worldwide, with more than 4.34 million confirmed cases, while recoveries have surpassed 1.54 million, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University of the US.

*Writing by Fahri Aksut