The head of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) has warned that coronavirus is spreading "exponentially" in many areas of the region, which is now home to "nearly half" of all Covid-19 cases.

Dr Carissa Etienne said the virus was still spreading aggressively in countries including Brazil, Peru and Chile, and was increasing in places where it had previously been limited, including Venezuela and Haiti.

Climactic factors such as the winter and hurricane season will pose a considerable challenge to efforts to combat the illness, she warned in a virtual press briefing organised by PAHO.

"Winter fuels respiratory infections... that can rapidly spread in ca older climate and as more people gather indoors to stay warm," she said.
As of 8 June, more than 3.3 million coronavirus cases have been reported in Latin America and North America. Brazil has the world's second-highest number of cases, and has recently had more new deaths than any other nation.