Many Southern Hemisphere nations are facing an exploding number of coronavirus cases as the virus continues its spread around the world, according to information gathered statistic aggregators.
South Africa has seen a four-fold increase in the 7-day running average of new coronavirus cases reported in the last 30 days, from 2,400 new cases daily to more than 10,000.
With roughly one-quarter of the Southern Hemisphere’s population, Brazil has experienced a 33% increase in the same statistic, from 27,000 daily cases to 36,000 cases. Brazil has also ranked second worldwide numerically in the quality of new cases in the past week, behind the United States.
Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela have seen sharp spikes in daily new cases and 7-day trendlines, meaning that four of the five most populous countries in South America are seeing the virus spread rapidly.
While data coming from nations in Africa are less reliable and consistent, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo–two of the continents most populous nations–have posted outlier daily spikes recently.
The trend is not universal in the hemisphere, however. Australia and New Zealand have essentially stifled the spread of the virus. Peru and Chile have also seen consistent reductions in both daily and active case counts.
With most nations in the Northern Hemisphere having reduced trendlines in daily new cases–with the obvious exception of the United States–the increase in the Southern Hemisphere creates a potential for a rebound in the Northern Hemisphere in six months unless a vaccine is found.