Yahoo Finance The worst region in the world for COVID, according to the WHO
South America is now the most worrying region for COVID-19 infections, according to the World Health Organization.
Cases are increasing in nearly every country on the continent, including Brazil, which has seen the most significant surge.
Carissa Etienne, the director of the WHO regional office Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), said on Wednesday: “Nowhere are infections as worrisome as in South America.”
Scientists forecast Brazil will soon surpass the worst of a record January wave in the United States, with daily fatalities climbing above 4,000 on Tuesday.
"The situation in Brazil is concerning countrywide," added COVID-19 incident director Sylvain Aldighieri.
"Our concern at the moment is also for the Brazilian citizens themselves in this context of health services that are overwhelmed."
Watch: Brazil's COVID-19 death toll could outpace the US
Aldighieri said Brazil needs access to more coronavirus vaccines and should be able to receive them through global partnerships.
PAHO can expand its help to Brazilian states if requested, he said, adding it is already aiding with virus genetic sequencing, procuring oxygen and coronavirus testing.
In parts of Bolivia and Colombia, cases have doubled in the last week, Etienne said, adding that the southern cone is also experiencing an acceleration in cases.
Intensive care units are nearing capacity in Peru and Ecuador.
The US, Brazil and Argentina are among the ten countries seeing the highest number of new infections globally, she added.
The Americas recorded more than 1.3 million new coronavirus cases and over 37,000 deaths last week, Etienne said, more than half of all deaths reported globally.
"We cannot ease public health and social interventions without good data and justification," she said, adding slowing and stopping transmission "requires decisive action by local and national governments."
More than 210 million vaccine doses have been administered across the Americas, Etienne confirmed.
Bolivia, Nicaragua and Haiti may be affected by Serum Institute of India vaccine shipment delays, said sub-director Jarbas Barbosa, but the WHO is appealing to the Indian government to ensure shipment agreements.
Watch: How England will leave lockdown
