20 countries in Americas report virus variants

Areas in the Americas and the Caribbean are seeing a "devastating resurgence" of COVID-19 with "three new variants ... raising questions about possible heightened transmisability," the Pan American Health Organization's (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, said on Wednesday.

Speaking during the organization's news conference, Etienne said the new variants of COVID-19 had been detected in 20 countries in the Americas.

During the last seven days the region had recorded some 1.8 million new cases of the virus and 47,000 people had died.

Because of a severe lack of medical grade oxygen, PAHO has helped local governments procure necessary supplies.

"PAHO has had to openly support local government, such as in Manaus, the municipality of Manaus and the province of Amazonas, to send supplementary oxygen by plane," said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri the Deputy Director of PAHO's Health Emergencies Department.

He went on to say that the organization has donated some 600 canisters to 20 countries throughout the region, in particular, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Mexico are all experiencing shortages of medical-grade oxygen.

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