South America

Rio De Janeiro, Apr 17 (AP) Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, whose dismissive stance toward the COVID-19 pandemic has angered many health experts, fired his popular health minister following a series of disagreements over the proper response to contain the virus' spread in South America's most populous country.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta, an orthopedist, had garnered support for his handling of the pandemic that included promotion of broad isolation measures enacted by state governors, even drawing comparisons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. President Donald Trump's top virus expert.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, whose dismissive stance toward the COVID-19 pandemic has angered many health experts, fired his popular health minister following a series of disagreements over the proper response to contain the virus’ spread in South America’s most populous country.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta, an orthopedist, had garnered support for his handling of the pandemic that included promotion of broad isolation measures enacted by state governors, even drawing comparisons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. President Donald Trump’s top virus expert.

MONTEVIDEO, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The last 14 passengers of a cruise ship struck by COVID-19 disembarked on Wednesday in Uruguay's capital Montevideo.

The passengers, including Americans, Canadians and Europeans, were set to take a humanitarian flight later in the day to the United States, Uruguay's Foreign Affairs Minister Ernesto Talvi told reporters at the cruise ship terminal.

SAO PAULO (AP) — After a heated confrontation with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro last month over his lackadaisical approach to the coronavirus, governors in the South American country have since pulled back, wary of losing vital federal aid in the efforts to control COVID-19.

That strategy is no longer working for the leader of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, the country’s economic engine and the epicenter of the nation’s virus outbreak. Gov. João Doria has made it clear he’s done biting his tongue.

BRASILIA, Apr 14 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Brazil’s total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 23,430, and the death toll climbed to 1,328, for a mortality rate of 5.7 percent, the Health Ministry said, on Monday.

The total figures rose after 1,261 new infections were detected in the past 24 hours, and 105 more people died.

The epicentre of Brazil’s outbreak continues to be the southeast state of Sao Paulo, followed by the states of Rio de Janeiro, Ceara, Amazonas, Pernambuco and Minas Gerais.

According to authorities, Brazil has 111 infections per million inhabitants.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his health minister are in open conflict over the country’s coronavirus response, leading many to worry that the far-right leader could soon fire the official who has played a major role in containing the outbreak.

13 April 2020; AFP: Police in Lima on Sunday arrested a Chinese citizen for illegally conducting rapid COVID-19 tests on the public with newly-delivered kits stolen from Peru's health ministry.

Tianxing Zhang, 36, was arrested in the Brena district of Lima as he was about to take samples from two women at the door of their house, police said.

He "was proceeding to carry out rapid tests for COVID-19 that he had stolen" from the Lima Sur health authority where he worked, according to a police statement.

13 April 2020; AFP: Ecuador said police have removed almost 800 bodies in recent weeks from homes in Guayaquil, the epicenter of the country's coronavirus outbreak, after the disease overwhelmed emergency services, hospitals and funeral parlours.

Mortuary workers in the Pacific port city have been unable to cope with a backlog, with residents posting videos on social media showing abandoned bodies in the streets.

GUAYAQUIL, April 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador said police have removed almost 800 bodies in recent weeks from homes in Guayaquil, the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus outbreak, after the disease overwhelmed emergency services, hospitals and funeral parlours.

Mortuary workers in the Pacific port city have been unable to cope with a backlog, with residents posting videos on social media showing abandoned bodies in the streets.

CARACAS, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A plane carrying 90 tons of UN health, water and sanitation aid arrived in Venezuela on Wednesday to help the cash-strapped country fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The shipment includes 28,000 Personal Protective Equipment kits for health workers, oxygen concentrators, pediatric beds, water quality control products and hygiene kits, the UN said.

“This is the first United Nations humanitarian shipment in support of the Venezuela COVID-19 outbreak,” said Peter Grohmann, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Venezuela.