Science

Coronavirus live news: WHO warns about quarantine failures, Argentina records 1m cases


Argentina has become the fifth country with more than 1 million coronavirus cases, its Health Ministry said, after an acceleration of cases in the past few weeks.

There were 1,002,662 confirmed cases of the virus in the South American country by Monday night, the ministry said in a statement.

In the past 24 hours, there were 12,982 new cases reported and 451 deaths, it said.

The latest figures put it alongside the United States, India, Brazil and Russia, all with populations greatly exceeding Argentina’s 45 million people.

It means one in every 45 Argentinians have had the virus.

FILE - Cots fill Tecnopolis Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 17, 2020. Authorities set up the field hospital in Buenos Aires. The space normally hosts museum exhibits, fairs and other attractions.

FILE – Cots fill Tecnopolis Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 17, 2020. Authorities set up the field hospital in Buenos Aires. The space normally hosts museum exhibits, fairs and other attractions. Photograph: Víctor R Caivano/AP

More than 26,000 people have died, giving the country fatality rate of about 2.7%, according to health ministry data.

The country ranks 15th in the world on deaths per 100,000 population, at 59.03, according to Johns Hopkins data. Peru (105.35), Brazil (73.36) and Chile (72.80) and Ecuador (72.5) top the rate of deaths per 100,000 in South America. By comparison the US’s rate is 67.14.

Argentina is also grappling with low levels of testing. But for those getting tested, more than 60% of recent tests are coming back positive, one of the world’s highest positivity rates.

Argentina’s borders remain closed to tourism, though domestic flights have resumed for people with government approval to travel for medical, family or work reasons.



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