SAO PAULO (HRNW) – The coronavirus pandemic advanced steadily Wednesday through Latin America, where the death toll passed the grim milestone of 70,000 fatalities even as Europe planned to reopen its external borders to foreigners in July.
The Americas — North and South — remained the epicenter of the global health crisis, accounting for almost half the 412,926 deaths and 7.3 million infections worldwide.
Brazil accounts for almost 40,000 — or more than half — of Latin America s total deaths, registering 1,274 fatalities in the last 24 hours.
Even as the virus continued to cut a swath through the country, economic capital Sao Paulo began reopening shops on Wednesday as part of a gradual resumption of activity.
Shopping malls were set to reopen in a slew of cities on Thursday, the day before Brazilians celebrate Valentine s Day.
Mexico, with nearly 15,000 COVID-19 deaths, and Peru, with almost 6,000 deaths from 208,000 cases, are also battling a deep surge.
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