Philip Reeves

Brazil has become a coronavirus hot spot and the mayor of Sao Paulo warns the health care system is near collapse. Meanwhile, the country's president continues to flout social distancing requests.

The coronavirus gave a boost to many presidents and prime ministers around the globe. Take a look at three democracies: the U.K., Israel and Brazil.

Argentina has been very effective in managing the coronavirus outbreaks, locking down early and keeping the number of coronavirus cases low.

Once there were 100 cases, the government imposed broad confinement measures. More than seven weeks later, with 317 coronavirus-related deaths, Argentina is easing its lockdown outside Buenos Aires.

With hospitals and cemeteries overwhelmed by the coronavirus, the mayor of Manaus, Brazil's hardest hit city, has appealed to world leaders, including President Trump, for help.

Two U.S. citizens were arrested in Venezuela Monday. President Nicolas Maduro went on TV and said they had tried to invade his country, overthrow him and assassinate him.

As Brazil's president down plays the coronavirus threat — despite a sharp uptick in death — he's facing a political crisis. It is affecting the government's handling of the pandemic.

Cemeteries and hospitals are overwhelmed by a surge in fatalities, most of which are not registered in official COVID-19 statistics because of a lack of testing and bureaucratic delays.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been widely accused of endangering the public by greatly underestimating the threat posed by the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 2,500 Brazilian lives.

The country is grappling with the biggest outbreak of the coronavirus in Latin America. Luiz Henrique Mandetta's departure follows weeks of acrimony over his embrace of broad-based social isolation.

NPR correspondents in Paris, Nairobi and Rio de Janeiro relay how the countries they cover have adapted to life in the age of the coronavirus.

Doctors tell NPR many health workers have left the country and many hospitals don't have necessities, including soap and running water.

Venezuela is in no position to fight COVID-19. Its health care system collapsed long before the virus hit, leaving hospitals without running water and soap, much less ventilators or PPE.

Followers of President Jair Bolsonaro demand that the country returns to work and ends closures imposed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, which has killed 77 in Brazil.

President Jair Bolsonaro labeled regional leaders who have imposed restrictions as "criminals" who are "destroying Brazil." His position has brought him into conflict with them and medical experts.

Local leaders in the South American nation are calling on the president to take far stronger measures to tackle the virus, after the number of identified cases rose from 170 to 922 in just a day.

"Clearly, by the end of April, our health care system will collapse," said Brazil's Health Minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta. Confirmed cases surged by 283 in one day to 904.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro may be adored by supporters, but his cavalier attitude toward the coronavirus, which has infected many members of his government, has others banging pots and pans.

President Nicolás Maduro has allowed the use of U.S. dollars to revive Venezuela's collapsing economy, jumpstarting business and consumption for those with greenbacks. Those without may go hungry.

Juan Guaidó has returned home following a trip to the U.S. to meet President Trump and attend the World Economic Forum in Davos. He defied a travel ban imposed by the regime of Nicolás Maduro.