Several Latin American countries reporting new peaks of infections, deaths

The latest figures from several major Latin American states show that the rate of infection and deaths from the coronavirus are hitting new peaks.

Analysis of figures from individual states and from WHO shows that Brazil, Mexico and Colombia are at or close to peak infection rates, when daily numbers are averaged over a week, reports the CNN.

Brazil saw its highest weekly death rate on July 8 — averaging 1,047 in the seven days since July 1. A week ago, by comparison, the average was 972 fatalities. Brazil has recorded a daily average of some 37,000 new cases since the last week of June, with marginal variations, suggesting that it has not yet passed the peak of infection.

In Mexico, the daily average of new cases in the week to July 8 was 6,176 — the highest yet. A week ago, that average was 4,989, according to CNN's analysis of official data. Deaths in Mexico from the coronavirus have fallen back from a daily average of 759 in the week to June 25 to 612 on July 8, but in recent days that daily average has begun to creep up again. 

Colombia's figures are much lower, but the average daily increase in both new infections and deaths has accelerated in recent days. When averaged over the previous week, the number of new infections increased from 3,557 on July 1 to 3,804 in the week to July 8, while the death rate increased from 140 to 151. 

Similarly, Peru's numbers are much lower than those of Brazil and Mexico; but show a consistent daily average in deaths of about 180 since the last week of June, with new infections running at about 3,400 over the same period. So, while there is no dramatic spike in the rate of increase in Peru, nor is there any marked decline.

Other Latin American countries are also showing little sign of being past the peak of infections and deaths, but both Uruguay and Paraguay continue to have very low infection rates.

However, Chile, which saw a spike in infections last month, has shown a consistent decline in its weekly averages of both deaths and new infections. Official statistics show that the average of new infections has fallen to 2,968 from 3,947 a day (in the week to July 8); deaths have fallen from 146 to 117 a day in the same period.