Peru updates COVID-19 death toll to over 180,000

Peru announced a sharp increase in its COVID-19 death toll on Monday, saying there have been more than 180,000 fatalities since the pandemic hit the country early last year.The study results put the new toll at 180,764 compared to recent data indicating that 69,342 people had died from COVID-19.

The announcement was made in the presidential palace during the presentation of a report by a working group commissioned to analyze and update the death toll. The previous figures used only confirmed cases with a positive diagnosis test, and the one incorporates other criteria.The new toll from COVID-19 includes deaths reported between March 2020 and May 22 of this year. Among Latin American countries, only Brazil and Mexico have reported higher death tolls from the disease.