Quito, April 16 (RHC)-- In Ecuador, emergency workers have collected the remains of nearly 1,900 people from hospitals and homes in the city of Guayaquil over the past two weeks.  The deaths represent a fivefold increase in the city’s usual mortality rate, as hospitals are overwhelmed with hundreds of COVID-19 patients.

In Brazil, a study has found the number of coronavirus cases in the country is likely 12 times higher than government figures and that only 8% of cases are being officially reported.  Testing remains scarce in Brazil, and there are extremely long waits to confirm test results. 

In Guatemala, Health Minister Hugo Monroy on Tuesday blamed a spike in coronavirus cases on U.S. deportations, saying at least half of those who have recently been deported have tested positive for COVID-19.

Hugo Monroy told reporters: “This is the situation.  There are flights with Guatemalan citizens who have been deported from the United States and who are put on the planes, and they have fevers.  And so, once they arrive here, we automatically evaluate their health, immediately test them for COVID-19.  And a lot of them have been testing positive.”