Coronavirus cases rise in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil

By Sinan Dogan and Muhammed Emin Canik

ANKARA/BUENOS AIRES (AA) - Three South American countries reported an increase in infections from the novel coronavirus, according to officials Friday.

COVID-19 cases more than doubled in Ecuador in the last 24 hours with an additional 11,536, increasing the tally to 22,719, according to health chief Juan Carlos Zevallos, who attributed the spike to late test results.

A total of 576 people died from the virus in the nation of 16 million people.

The death toll in Peru reached 634, according to health officials, who said 7,496 patients have recovered.

The first case in Peru was reported March 6 and the first death confirmed March 20.

In Brazil, the death toll rose to 3,670 with 357 additional fatalities in the past 24 hours, according to the Brazilian Health Ministry.

The number of cases increased to 52,995 with 3,503 more, the ministry added.

Brazil, with a population of 210 million, is one of the worst-hit nations in Latin America.

After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 185 countries and regions.

The pandemic has killed more than 195,700 people, with total infections nearing 2.8 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University. An excess of 781,100 people have recovered worldwide.