LatAm sees rise in locally transmitted cases of COVID-19

MEXICO CITY - The COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday continued to claim lives in Latin America as imported infections gave way to locally transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus disease.

Argentina said that the death toll from the disease outbreak in the country rose to six after two men died. One of the men came down with the virus after returning from Spain, while the other had contact with a patient in Argentina who had tested positive.

So far, Argentina has reported 387 cases of infections.

In neighboring Brazil, the largest country in South America, the number of confirmed cases has risen from 1,891 to 2,201, with the death toll jumping from 34 to 46.

Mexico's government on Tuesday said the country entered stage 2 of the coronavirus epidemic, marked by a rise in the number of patients who contracted the disease locally. The country has registered 367 cases of the virus and four deaths.

Ecuador's death toll climbed to 27, with a total of 1,049 confirmed infections, making it one of the hardest-hit countries in the region, the Public Health Ministry said.

In the past 24 hours, Ecuador saw eight deaths related to COVID-19 and 68 newly-detected infections.

Like many regional countries, Ecuador has put in place stringent measures to reduce people's movement since a state of emergency was declared on March 16.

In Ecuador's coastal province of Guayas, the number of infections topped 807. A special joint task force of military and police officers has been sent there to ensure residents comply with quarantine orders.

Chile has registered 922 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two deaths, the Ministry of Health of Chile announced Tuesday.

The country imposed a night-time curfew on Sunday.

Last week, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera declared a 90-day state of catastrophe to step up the government's effort to combat COVID-19.

In Peru, President Martin Vizcarra reported 21 new cases of infection, bringing the total to 416.