Because of the rising number of coronavirus infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a collapse of hospitals in North and South America. „Across the region, many clinics operate at or near the limit of their capacity,“ said Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) director Clarissa Etienne yesterday. The PAHI is a regional organization of the WHO.
Etienne was particularly concerned about the high occupancy rates in intensive care units and the lack of medical oxygen. „Last week we registered over 2.5 million new Covid-19 cases in the region – more than half of all cases worldwide.“
„During the same period, 42,000 people in North and South America lost their lives because of the pandemic,“ said Etienne. With the USA, Brazil and Mexico, three of the worst affected countries are in the region. In many countries, the political measures did not match the seriousness of the situation, Etienne said. „And too many of us have eased the measures that we know work (…).“
