Latin America surpasses 1 million COVID-19 deaths

More than 1 million total COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Latin America and the Caribbean as of Saturday, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. The region — which accounts for 8% of the world population — has reported approximately 29% of all global COVID fatalities. 

"This is a tragic milestone for everyone in the region," Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne said Friday in a statement. "This pandemic is far from over, and it is hitting Latin America and the Caribbean severely, affecting our health, our economies, and entire societies." With more than 446,000 deaths, Brazil has the highest death toll in the region and accounts for 44.5% of Latin America's deaths. The country has reported the second-highest number of deaths globally, behind only the United States.