Bolsonaro's aide infected; Cuba receives donations

SAO PAULO－Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's spokesman has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, as the country registered a record number of cases and deaths on Wednesday.

Army General Otavio Rego Barros, 59, one of the administration's top public figures, "is home following all recommended protocols" after his positive test result was confirmed on Tuesday, said the president's office on Wednesday.

The nation registered 10,503 new cases in the latest 24-hour period, taking the total number to 125,218. The death toll stands at 8,536.

Health Minister Nelson Teich said an increasing number of local authorities may have to institute "lockdowns", as infections continue to grow in the country.

In Argentina, President Alberto Fernandez on Wednesday ruled out an immediate exit from the country's lockdown, saying it would "lead to the death of thousands".

Opposition parties, economists and business leaders have stepped up demands for the government to relax strict quarantine measures to allow industries to reopen.

Exiting the quarantine "in the terms they are demanding, will lead to the death for thousands of Argentines because we cannot control" the virus, Fernandez said.

He said the government's policy had succeeded in slowing down the rate of infections, and held out the possibility of gradually loosening the lockdown measures starting on Monday.

By Wednesday, Argentina had registered 5,100 cases with 273 deaths.

In Colombia, President Ivan Duque on Wednesday declared a second state of emergency to support sectors of the economy that will remain shut for an extended period until May 25.

Mexico on Wednesday reported 1,609 new cases and 197 new fatalities, taking the total in the country to 27,634 cases with 2,704 deaths.

Meanwhile, Cuba on Wednesday received donations of medical supplies from the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee amid the Caribbean nation's efforts to fight the pandemic.

The supplies included some 60,000 surgical face masks and 6,000 N95 face masks, and more donations from China will continue to arrive on the island throughout the week, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Chen Xi said.

Since Cuba confirmed its first three COVID-19 cases on March 11, the Chinese government, companies and social groups have been helping the Caribbean country with medical supplies.

As of Wednesday, total infections in Cuba were 1,703 with 69 deaths.

Agencies - Xinhua