The growth of cases continues in the region, with Brazil as the global epicentre and Ecuador and Peru announcing new restrictions. Colombia and Argentina have returned to a "softer" phase 1 while Uruguay has approved a tax on high salaries and pensions to create a "COVID Fund".

In Peru, with more than 1.6 million cases and almost 56,000 deaths, a mandatory Sunday quarantine was reimposed in 41 of the 196 provinces, mainly in the Andean zone and the coastal region, including Lima, which are currently at "extreme risk".

In parallel, vaccination began nine weeks ago, but is progressing slowly and for now only reaches health personnel, police, military, firefighters and part of the elderly population.

Ecuador, with some 355,000 cases and 17,500 deaths, has also announced a ban on private vehicles moving along highways and roads at night during the remaining weekends of April, due to an increase in infections.

The measure outlaws circulation between 8pm and 5am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundasy on the national road network, and in the 11 provinces where the pandemic has hit the hardest.