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Updated April 15, 2021
Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is
Brazil had 8.9%, Mexico 5.8%, Colombia 4.2%, and Peru
having widespread economic, social, and political effects
1.9%.
on Latin America and the Caribbean. As of April 14, 2021,
the region had almost 26.7 million confirmed cases (19.3%
PAHO has helped countries prepare for vaccine rollout and
of cases worldwide) and over 846,000 deaths (28.4% of
facilitated access to vaccines through the COVAX Facility,
deaths worldwide). Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina,
a mechanism developed by global health organizations for
and Peru had the highest numbers of deaths in the region,
pooled procurement and distribution of vaccines; 22
and Brazil and Mexico had highest death tolls worldwide
countries in the region have signed agreements to access
after the United States. The regional rankings change when
vaccines through the facility. In addition, 10 countries in
examining deaths per 100,000 population—using this
the region—Bolivia, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada,
measurement, Peru had the highest rate in the region,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, and St.
followed by Brazil, Mexico, Panama, and Colombia (see
Vincent and the Grenadines—are eligible to benefit from
Table 1). A University of Washington COVID-19
the COVID-19 Vaccines Advance Market Commitment
projection model (updated April 8, 2021) forecast deaths in
(COVAX AMC), launched by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance,
the region could reach 1.2 million by August 1, 2021.
to provide donor-funded vaccines for low- and middle-
income economies worldwide. PAHO maintains that by the
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned in
end of 2021, vaccines provided through COVAXs should
early March 2021 that a Brazilian variant of the virus was
cover about 20% of each country’s population.
more contagious and could affect neighboring countries. In
its weekly briefing on April 14, 2021, PAHO reported that
Table 1. COVID-19 Cases, Deaths, and Mortality
the virus was continuing to spread in the Americas,
Rates in Latin American/Caribbean (LAC) Countries
particularly in South America, which it described as the
(countries with more than 2,000 deaths, as of April 14, 2021)
current epicenter of the pandemic. The recent spike in the
Amazon has led to increases in neighboring countries, with
Cases
Deaths per
Country
Deaths
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and some parts of
(millions)
100,000
Bolivia seeing a sharp rise in cases. In the Caribbean, cases
were rising in Cuba and some smaller overseas territories.
Brazil
13.674
361,884
171.47
According to PAHO’s director, weekly case averages and
Mexico
2.291
210,812
165.24
deaths are higher than in 2020. She noted that despite
ongoing transmission in many places, social distance
Colombia
2.586
66,819
132.74
restrictions are being relaxed.
Argentina
2.604
58,542
130.27
PAHO has played a major role in supporting countries in
Peru
1.668
55,812
171.67
their pandemic responses. When the pandemic began to
Chile
1.094
24,548
129.53
surge in the region in 2020, the PAHO director expressed
concern about the poor and other vulnerable groups at
Ecuador
.351
17,400
100.15
greatest risk, including those living in the Amazon Basin,
Bolivia
.285
12,519
108.74
particularly indigenous communities; women, who make up
70% of the health workforce in the Americas; people of
Guatemala
.207
7,089
42.69
African descent; migrants in temporary settlements; and
prisoners in crowded jails.
Panama
.360
6,177
145.46
Paraguay
.242
5,040
71.54
The rollout of vaccines in the region has been slow, with
some exceptions; there is concern that widespread vaccine
Honduras
.198
4,905
50.33
access in some countries could be delayed until 2022. As of
Dom. Rep.
.259
3,402
31.68
April 9, according to PAHO, Chile was the leader in the
region, with 37% of its population having received a first
Costa Rica
.225
3,044
60.31
dose. Several Caribbean countries that received vaccine
El Salvador
.067
2,060
31.92
donations from India—Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados,
and Dominica—had vaccinated more than 20% of their
Total LAC
26.656
846,394
—
populations with a first dose. Many countries in the region,
United States
31.421
564,402
171.95
however, have vaccinated far smaller percentages of their
populations. For example, as of April 9, 2021, Argentina
Source: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Coronavirus
had vaccinated 9.3% of its population with a first dose,
Resource Center, “Mortality Analyses,” April 15, 2021, updated daily,
at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19
In the first round of COVAX Facility allocations through
stagnant or declining growth; high levels of inequality and
May 2021 (including both self-financing participants and
poverty; and inadequate public services, social safety net
countries receiving donations through the AMC program),
programs, and advancement opportunities. The pandemic
Latin American and Caribbean countries are scheduled to
has exacerbated these factors, which could stoke social
receive 27.8 million doses. Many countries in the region
unrest similar to that in 2019.
also have signed commercial agreements with
pharmaceutical companies, and several countries have
Human rights groups and other observers have expressed
begun to use Chinese and Russian vaccines. Cuba is making
concern about leaders taking advantage of the pandemic to
progress on a vaccine it is developing.
advance their own agendas and restrict freedom of
expression. In Bolivia, the former interim government twice
PAHO’s director said the region lags in the vaccination
postponed presidential elections, prompting widespread
effort because most countries cannot access the doses they
protests, until elections were held in October 2020. In
need through bilateral agreements with manufacturers. On
Venezuela, the government and security forces have used a
April 14, 2021, she warned that, for most countries in the
state of emergency imposed to curb the virus’s spread as an
region, vaccines will not to stop the current wave and there
excuse to crack down on dissent. Cuba also has used
are not enough vaccines available to protect everyone at
regulations designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to
greatest risk.
repress government opponents.
Economic Impact
U.S. Policy Considerations
In the April 2021 update of its World Economic Outlook,
The 116th Congress passed two supplemental appropriations
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated a 7.0%
measures in March 2020—P.L. 116-123 and P.L. 116-
economic contraction for the region. Economic recovery
136—that provided nearly $1.8 billion in aid to respond to
may be a protracted process in countries that rely heavily on
COVID-19 globally. The State Department reported that, as
global trade and investment. Caribbean nations that depend
of August 2020 (latest information made available), the
on tourism face deep economic recessions, several with
United States was providing $141.4 million in new and
projected economic declines over15% in 2020. Several
previously announced assistance to help countries in the
South American nations hard hit by the pandemic are
region respond to the pandemic. In December 2020,
projected to register economic contractions over 10%.
Congress approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
Although most countries in the region are expected to begin
2021 (P.L. 116-260), which included $4 billion in
economic recovery in 2021, the IMF regional growth
emergency Global Health Programs assistance for COVID-
forecast of 4.6% lags behind the expected world economic
19 vaccine procurement and delivery, with funds made
growth forecast of 6.0%.
available as a contribution to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Gavi supports COVAX AMC and coordinates
The economic contraction in 2020 has increased poverty
implementation of the COVAX Facility, both of which
and exacerbated income inequality in the region. Latin
benefit countries in the region.
America already was the most unequal region in the world
in terms of income inequality, according the U.N.
The 117th Congress approved the American Rescue Plan
Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2), signed into law in March 2021,
Caribbean (ECLAC). A March 2021 ECLAC report said 22
which provides $9.755 billion for foreign assistance
million people in Latin America moved into poverty in
programs to respond to COVID-19 globally, including
2020, with overall poverty rising to 33.7% of the region’s
through global health interventions, humanitarian
population from 30.5% in 2019.
assistance, and contributions to multilateral efforts.
A number of countries in the region have implemented
Some Members of Congress have called for President
stimulus programs to help protect their economies and
Biden to prioritize Latin American and Caribbean countries
vulnerable populations, but countries have needed external
in donating surplus vaccines to countries in need. The
financing to respond to the pandemic and associated
White House announced in March 2021 that the United
economic downturn. In response, international financial
States would share 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca
institutions, including the IMF, the Inter-American
vaccine with Mexico. Caribbean and other countries have
Development Bank, and the World Bank, significantly
appealed to the United States to provide vaccines.
increased lending to countries throughout the region.
Legislation has been introduced (S. 616) to authorize a
Political Impact
capital increase for the Inter-American Development Bank,
in part to help countries address the pandemic and its
Even before the pandemic, public satisfaction with the
economic impact. Some Members also have argued for and
quality of democracy in several Latin America and
against a proposal at the World Trade Organization to
Caribbean countries was eroding. The 2018-2019
waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines.
AmericasBarometer public opinion survey showed the
lowest level of satisfaction with democracy since the poll
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
began in 2004. Several broad political and economic factors
June S. Beittel, Analyst in Latin American Affairs
drove the decline and help explain the eruption of social
Peter J. Meyer, Specialist in Latin American and Canadian
protests in the region in 2019. Political factors include an
Affairs
increase in authoritarian practices, weak democratic
Clare Ribando Seelke, Specialist in Latin American
institutions, politicized judicial systems, corruption, and
Affairs
high levels of crime and violence. Economic factors include
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19
Maureen Taft-Morales, Specialist in Latin American
Affairs
IF11581
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