Defying dire predictions, Venezuela so far seems to have avoided the coronavirus wave striking much of South America. But experts warn that while the virus may have been slow to spread here, due in large part to Venezuela’s isolation, the number of daily illnesses could soon climb high enough to severely test the country’s already dilapidated health system.
President Nicolás Maduro’s government says the nation of roughly 25 million people has done widespread testing while recording just over 1,200 virus cases, along with 11 deaths, since the first case was diagnosed in mid-March.
The low figures raise doubt among some critics about the accuracy of the testing program and government reporting. Other independent health experts, however, don’t