Peru hits new COVID case record as Brazilian variant spreads

LIMA - Peru said on Thursday it had confirmed a record high of 11,260 new cases of coronavirus in a single day amid a new more contagious variant first identified in Brazil, a shortage of medical equipment and near-saturated hospitals.

Peru's total caseload since the virus first hit in March last year is now 1,492,519 and 50,656 deaths, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday night. During the first wave of infections, Peru reached its peak with on Aug. 16, with 10,143 infected, according to official data.