11 Additional Positive Cases Of COVID-19 Haunted Copa America

JAKARTA - The number of COVID-19 cases among people involved in the Copa America jumped to 52 on Tuesday local time, an increase of 11 cases in the last two days, the Brazilian Ministry of Health said as quoted by Reuters from Reuters.

Two of the new cases were players or officials on the competing teams, the ministry said without disclosing which team from the South American country had the coronavirus.

A total of 33 players or officials from Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia have tested positive for exposure since last Sunday, which was the day the tournament kicked off in four Brazilian cities.

The other 19 were hotel workers in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro where the delegation was staying.

Brazil undertakes to host the Copa America, which is equivalent to the European Cup on the blue continent, on May 31, less than two weeks before the tournament starts.

Brazil did so after Argentina withdrew due to soaring cases of COVID-19 even though the whole of Brazil was hit by a wave of infections.

At least 2,468 people died from COVID-19 in Brazil on Tuesday, the Brazilian Ministry of Health said, bringing the country's total death toll to 490,696, the second highest figure in the world after the United States.