The COVID-19 pandemic is causing an unprecedented mental health crisis in the American continent, PAHO warned Tuesday, while the infections once again set off alarms in Spain and began a new phase in the Asia-Pacific region.
As of July 20 there were 311,000 deaths in the Americas and that last week the region reached the level of 900,000 new cases with 22,000 deaths, mostly in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
Long confinements and widespread pessimism in Latin America due to the advance of the coronavirus and the economic debacle have fueled tensions, which in some cases are beginning to turn into protests.
Panamanian doctors increased their protests, demanding supplies and additional personnel to attend the coronavirus pandemic that Thursday exceeded 50,000 infected people.
Hospitals in Panama are on the brink of collapse as coronavirus cases spike in the Central American country worst hit by the pandemic, where doctors are already exhausted.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has consistently downplayed the risks of coronavirus, announced Tuesday he has tested positive as the United States launched its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).