Thread by @yaneerbaryam

India, despite success earlier with reducing cases, is now seeing by far the highest levels of transmission from the entire pandemic. New cases reached 199,569 today.

Figures are from yesterday.

Note: No magic stops the pandemic.

1/

Brazil with the P.1 variant out of control continues to at or near all-time highs of Covid deaths.

2/

Argentina has all-time high infections, though death rates are not (yet) at record highs. For such rapid increases in cases, the associated deaths will not occur for a few weeks.

3/

Uruguay, which had been successful in keeping numbers of cases low relative to other American countries, has unfortunately seen a recent surge --- all-time high of both cases and deaths.

4/

Recent outbreaks in South America indicate what happens when a more infectious and deadly variant is allowed to take hold. If the rest of the world does not act rapidly, the same may happen elsewhere. Still unclear how much vaccines will help.

5/

Note: Incorrect Washington Post speculation about reason for earlier reduction of cases. Clearly incorrect given new surge.
washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pac…

Note that new variants in India have not been found responsible for the large number of new cases.
washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pac…

Here is article about new variants

"Indian authorities said Covid variants, including the double mutation strain, have not been detected in such large numbers that are sufficient to explain the spike in new infections."

cnbc.com/2021/03/30/dou…