By N. H. Gill
September 2020

Ecuador virus cases plunged 37% in August, the most in South America after Brazil (40%), according to the WHO. In comparison, neighbors Colombia and Peru saw cases jump by 8% and 67%, respectively, in the same time period.

On average, South American daily confirmed virus cases rose 35% in August, the data show. To be sure, the numbers reported by the WHO aren’t thought to be an accurate count of all cases and the dates of July 31-Aug. 31 are arbitrary. Total daily counts are also an arguably poor way to analyze the data, but the trends are surprising nonetheless.