The coronavirus' omicron variant starting to barrel across South America is pressuring hospitals whose employees are taking sick leave, leaving facilities understaffed to cope with COVID-19′s third wave.
A major hospital in Bolivia s largest city stopped admitting new patients due to lack of personnel, and one of Brazil's most populous states canceled scheduled surgeries for a month. Members of the Argentine Union of Health, which represents private healthcare providers, estimates that about 30% of its doctors have taken leave after showing light symptoms or coming into contact with someone infected.
