Coronavirus Epicenter Shifts To Latin America With Honduran President Hospitalized With Pneumonia

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced Latin America as the new epicenter for coronavirus outbreak with several countries reeling under the pressure of mounting death tolls.

In a recent development, the president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, and his wife tested positive for COVID-19. Hernández was hospitalized for pneumonia on Wednesday, June 17, just a day after he revealed that he and his wife have contracted coronavirus infection.

The spokesperson of the Honduran health agency SINAGER confirmed that Hernández was asked to get hospital admission done after his laboratory tests and X-ray confirmed pneumonia, which is a complication arising in COVID-19 patients.

The Honduran president is said to be in good condition and is currently receiving intravenous medications for pneumonia and other associated symptoms.

He took to Twitter to thank people for support and inform that he is well, “with faith and strength to continue working for the Honduran people.”

He further added that because of his responsibilities, he cannot stay at home constantly. Therefore, he risked becoming infected.

Hernández previously informed about the situation to the public on a televised messaged. He said that he and his wife have mild symptoms and will continue to work remotely as they are already feeling better.

However, the investigations confirmed pneumonia and that is why he has to be admitted to the military hospital so that he can receive medications intravenously.

Latin America is fighting a hard battle against coronavirus pandemic.

“In South America, the virus continues to spread aggressively in Brazil, Peru and Chile. We’re also seeing, in Venezuela, that cases are now mounting faster than at any point during the country's outbreak,” said the head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa Etienne, at a medial briefing on June 09.

“In the Caribbean, cases are on the rise in Haiti. And after more than a month without a new case, Suriname reported a spike this past week.”

Brazil is grappling hard with the coronavirus pandemic, more than any other country in Latin America. It now has the highest death toll in the world after the U.S.

In Honduras, more than 10,000 cases and 330 deaths have been confirmed.