Bolivia has now surpassed 7,000 people infected with coronavirus. In the last 24 hours, a record 476 new infections were registered in a single day. The latest tally from the Ministry of Health shows that there are 7,136 positive corona cases in the landlocked state, and 274 people have died. By region, Santa Cruz remains the main source of infection with 4,888, followed by Beni (1,242), La Paz (410), Cochabamba (345), Oruro (153), Potosí (44), Chuquisaca (22), Tarija (19) and Pando (13).

Health authorities express concern about the rapid increase in infections in Santa Cruz and Beni. As a result, the interim government of President Jeanine Áñez has announced the deployment of 4,000 soldiers to provide logistical support. In addition, construction began on a 160-bed military hospital in Beni dedicated exclusively to the care of COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, Bolivia's Health Minister Marcelo Navajas was dismissed and arrested on corruption charges in the COVID-19 pandemic. This was reported by Bolivia's state news agency ABI. Navajas is under investigation for the scandal involving the purchase of 170 overpriced and also unsuitable ventilators. According to the newspaper El Deber, Bolivia's government spent more than $28,000 (about 25,600 euros) per ventilator. According to the Spanish company GP Innova, however, the devices cost only between 6,000 and 7,500 euros each.