The latest figures on the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States indicate the country is nearing 2 million total cases.

The U.S. reached 1,999,900 confirmed cases as of late Wednesday night, with more than 112,908 deaths according to data collected by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University, maintaining its position as the leading country with the total number of cases and deaths.

As many as 21 states have recorded their highest number of COVID-19 cases this week, with many concentrated across the western and southwestern states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.  The increases come amid a loosening of coronavirus restrictions in recent weeks, including the annual Memorial Day holiday that signals the start of the traditional summer vacation season.

Experts also fear the ongoing nationwide protests sparked by the death of a African American man in Minneapolis while in police custody will lead to another spike in coronavirus infections.  Protesters have been captured on video walking shoulder-to-shoulder, although many of them were wearing masks.

The World Health Organization has determined that Latin America is the world’s new hot spot for the coronavirus pandemic, with the latest figures raising the total number of cases in the region to well over 1 million, with over 70,000 deaths.  With 772,416 confirmed cases, Brazil is the most affected country in the region, and ranks only behind the United States on the overall global list of confirmed cases.

Following Brazil is Peru with more than 207,000 overall cases. Chile is in third place with 148,456 cases and Mexico is close behind with 129,184.

As of late Wednesday, there are a total of 7,360,239 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide, with 416,200 deaths.

VOA