Peru revises pandemic death toll, now worst in the world per capita

A government review finds that 180,764 died from the disease which is almost triple the previous official figure that was 69,342.

The new toll is basically revised figure corresponds to the period from March 1, 2020 to May 22, 2021.

Peru has been one of the worst-hit countries in Latin America, resulting in an overstretched healthcare system and a lack of basic health supplies like oxygen.

The president of the Peruvian Medical Federation, Godofredo Talavera, said the increased toll was not a surprise.

"We believe this occurs because our health system does not have the necessary conditions to care for patients.

Some health officials has stated that Peru has also had problems with its testing regime, as it lacks the resources to carry out widespread molecular tests, the most reliable type.

In the beginning of pandemic, Peru bought millions of cheap tests from China which were designed to detect virus antibodies, not active cases.

Meanwhile, the official number of Covid deaths stands at 180,764, a huge increase that makes more than 500 Covid deaths per 100,000 people, overtaking Hungary with 300 per 100,000.