Below is an archive of research, projects, and infographics created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by scholars at American University and experts at partner institutions, as well analyses from media outlets and think tanks. This collection examines various dimensions of COVID-19’s impact and its implications across Latin America and among Latino communities in the United States.

*Some articles are listed in multiple categories.
 

2020

Moving Beyond COVID-19: Vaccines and Other Policy Considerations in Latin America
December 2020; Pepe Zhang
This Atlantic Council report presents a series of cross-cutting policy recommendations for Latin American governments that could aid vaccine planning and long-term pubic health.

Gender equality can accelerate Latin America’s post-COVID-19 recovery: Men and boys must take part
December 10, 2020; Valentina Sader and Cristina Guevara
Promoting gender equality across Latin America can aid and accelerate the region's COVID-19 recovery.

Back to the 1960s? Education May Be Latin America’s Most Lasting Scar from COVID-19
December 3, 2020; Nora Lustig, Guido Neidhöfer, and Mariano Tommasi
The pandemic is exacerbating social inequities and widening the educational gap in Latin America, with children in disadvantaged households severely impacted by school closures.

Education on hold
November 2020; UNICEF
This report details how education systems across the regional and facing the pandemic and policies to address both the current crisis and long-running educational inequities.

Recent trends in COVID-19 in the hemisphere
November 5, 2020; Latin America Risk Report
This summary of current coronavirus caseloads contextualizes what the shifting statistics signal across the region.

La Segunda Ola
October 2020; Salud con lupa
This collection of reporting examines the challenges facing health care systems across Latin America.

How Trump and Bolsonaro Broke Latin America's COVID-19 Defenses
October 27, 2020; David D. Kirkpatrick and José María León Cabrera
A series of policy decisions by the American and Brazilian presidents weakened the region's ability to respond as the pandemic spread, impacting communities from the Amazon to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Desafíos electorales para las democracias latinoamericanas en tiempos de pandemia
October 15, 2020; Melany Barragán
The pandemic poses many challenges to election safety and security across the region during a time of ongoing political and economic crisis.

A Less Apocalyptic Case for Latin America
October 14, 2020; Brian Winter
While the region faces a variety of challenges, there are signs that predictions of another "lost decade" are exaggerated.

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean: Main conditioning factors of fiscal and monetary policies in the post-COVID-19 era
October 6, 2020; UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
This ECLAC report analyzes current fiscal policies and the region's post-COVID outlook.

Policy expansion in compressed time: Assessing the speed, breadth and sufficiency of post-COVID-19 social protection measures in 10 Latin American countries
September 2020; Merike Blofield, Cecilia Giambruno, and Fernando Filgueira
The authors analyze social policies instituted by a selection of countries across the region in response to the pandemic, including lessons moving forward.

COVID-19 could help Latin America accelerate toward more inclusive transport
September 22, 2020; Maria Jose Gonzalez Rivas
Makhtar Diop, the World Bank’s Vice President for Infrastructure, discusses the pandemic's impacts on public transit in the region and opportunities to make it more inclusive.

IDB president warns of a looming COVID debt crisis in Latin America, but also highlights opportunities
September 14, 2020; David A. Wemer
Luis Alberto Moreno, outgoing president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), analyzes the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latin American economies.

La pandemia empodera a las Fuerzas Armadas en América Latina
September 12, 2020; Federico Rivas Molina, Javier Lafuente, Beatriz Jucá, and Rocío Montes
The armed forces have become more active in politics across the region and the pandemic has only accelerated this development.

Coming Next to Latin America: Even More Political Fragmentation
September 8, 2020; María Victoria Murillo
The pandemic and economic slowdown have deepened political polarization and weakened opportunities for coalition-building.

Lo que América Latina puede aprender de las elecciones durante la pandemia
September 2, 2020; Kevin Casas Z.
As nations across the region prepare for elections, the author presents several lessons to ensure they are safe and fair, with outcomes that are respected by all sides.

The case for a green recovery in post-COVID Latin America
September 1, 2020; Amir Lebdioui
A greed recovery focused on renewable energy and other environmentally friendly policies could improve Latin America's post-pandemic economic outlook and improve the region's resilience to future shocks.

What Covid-19 is Revealing About Latin America’s Politics
August 28, 2020; Cynthia J. Arnson
The pandemic is exacerbating ongoing political, economic, and societal issues throughout the region, creating an uncertain future as the next cycle of elections approaches.

Protests across Latin America reflect a toxic cocktail of pandemic and recession
August 20, 2020; Tim Lister and Stefano Pozzebon
The pandemic and ensuing economic impacts are aggravating tensions across Latin America, renewing protests that erupted across the region last year.

Latin America's coronavirus cases exceed 6 million
August 14, 2020; Javier López de Lérida
Coronavirus cases in Latin America, the region of the world worst-affected by the pandemic, exceeded 6 million on Friday and continued to accelerate, according to a Reuters tally, as most of its nations begin to relax lockdown measures.

Tough Times in Latin America
August 3, 2020; Andrés Serbin
The pandemic has created health and economic crises across the region while exacerbating preexisting structural challenges.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Latin America and the Caribbean
July 2020
This United Nations policy brief analyzes the profound impacts of the pandemic on the region and outlines policies for a recovery based on equality and equity.

Latin America Is Facing a ‘Decline of Democracy’ Under the Pandemic
July 30. 2020; Anatoly Kurmanaev
The political effects of COVID-19 are reverberating throughout the region as leaders in several countires weaken already fragile democratic institutions and norms.

Latin America is battling one disaster as a mammoth recession looms
July 26, 2020; Tim Lester
Several reports detail how the pandemic is wreaking havoc on the region's economies, with the potential for widespread political and social consequences.

Latin America sees half of all new Covid-19 infections as health systems flounder
July 4, 2020; Tim Lester
Health inequities within and between Latin American counties lead to strikingly different experiences with, and responses to, the pandemic.

Virus Gains Steam Across Latin America
June 23, 2020; Azam Ahmed, Anatoly Kurmanaev, Daniel Politi, and Ernesto Londoño
While economic and health care challenges increased Latin America's vulnerability to COVID-19, government responses have greatly varied the pandemic's impact across the region.

Una tormenta azotará las democracias latinoamericanas
June 15, 2020; Gustavo A. Flores-Macías
The author argues that timid responses to economic crises stemming from the pandemic could damage the region's already fragile democracies.

“En América Latina podemos tener un retroceso histórico en la lucha contra el hambre”
June 8, 2020; Rocío Montes
In this interview, FAO Assistant Director-General Julio Berdegué describes his concerns that the pandemic and economic crisis could undo more than a decade of progress to combat hunger in the region.

What About the Students?: The Educational Response to Covid-19
June 8, 2020; Ariel Fiszbein, Ana Florez, and Sarah Stanton
Findings from a recent survey by the Inter-American Dialogue reveal how education ministries across the region are responding to the pandemic.

Latin America: COVID-19 Challenges Higher Education
June 2, 2020; Eric Hershberg, Alexandra Flinn-Palcic, and Christopher Kambhu
The authors examine results from a recent CLALS survey of university leaders across Latin America, describing the implications of COVID-19 for higher education in the region. Read the full report.

Central America and the Pandemic: Different Priorities and Risky Bets
May 20, 2020; Alexander Segovia
This analysis of Central American government responses to COVID-19 reveals conflicting economic and health priorities across the region in this AULABLOG post.

Six Ways Coronavirus is Impacting Organized Crime in the Americas
May 4, 2020; Parker Asmann, Chris Dalby and Seth Robbins
InSight Crime summarizes how the pandemic is affecting crime and criminal organizations across the region.

Caribbean Economies in the Time of the Coronavirus
April 2020
This Inter-American Development Bank report examines how the pandemic is creating an unprecedented economic crisis across the Caribbean.

Latin American Responses to the Coronavirus: Some Initial Highlights
March 31, 2020; Chuck Call and Jeffrey Hallock
This summary analyzes research findings on initial measures taken by governments throughout Latin America in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through late March.

Billionaires Can’t Pay Latin America’s Covid Tab
December 16, 2020; Mac Margolis
Following a recent push in Argentina to increase taxes on the wealthy, debate abounds on the role of fiscal reform to shape the region's post-pandemic recovery.

Employment trends in an unprecedented crisis: policy challenges
November 2020; Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and International Labour Organization
This joint report by two UN bodies examines current labor market trends across the region and the particular challenges the pandemic presents for youth employment.

The COVID-19 reset Latin America needs, according to three experts
November 11, 2020; Mauricio Cárdenas, Eduardo Levy-Yeyati, and Andrés Velasco
The pandemic has exposed two structural weaknesses across the region; the shortcomings in state capacity and the dual labor market of formal and informal jobs.

Proyecciones socioeconómicas 2020
October 2020; FUNIDES
This report from the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUNIDES) examines the economic impacts of COVID-19 in Nicaragua and projects how they will extend into 2020.

Latin America’s new poor
October 10, 2020; The Economist
The pandemic-induced recession is undoing much of the recent progress made to reduce poverty and inequality across the region.

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean: Main conditioning factors of fiscal and monetary policies in the post-COVID-19 era
October 6, 2020; Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
This ECLAC report analyzes current fiscal policies and the region's post-COVID outlook.

Impact on the labour market and income in Latin America and the Caribbean
September 2020; International Labour Organization
The pandemic has created an unprecedented labor situation across Latin America, exacerbating inequalities even as signs of a recovery emerge in some parts of the region.

La pobreza subió al 40,9% en el primer semestre del año y afecta a 18,5 millones de personas
September 30, 2020; Natalia Donato
Argentina's poverty rate has surpassed 40%, the highest level since its economic crisis in 2001.

Another lost decade for Latin America?
September 29, 2020; William Rhodes
Latin America faces an unprecedented combination of challenges from the pandemic, economic downturn, and the ongoing Venezuelan migration crisis.

IDB president warns of a looming COVID debt crisis in Latin America, but also highlights opportunities
September 14, 2020; David A. Wemer
Luis Alberto Moreno, outgoing president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), analyzes the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latin American economies.

It took decades to build Mexico’s middle class. The coronavirus could demolish it
September 5, 2020; Kate Linthicum
In Mexico, the negative impacts of the economic slowdown could last far beyond the pandemic.

Left Off the Bread Line
September 4, 2020; Aníbal Nicolás Saldías 
Labor informality is an acute challenge across the region and exacerbates the challenges governments face when addressing the economic crisis.

Brazil Hands Out So Much Covid Cash That Poverty Nears a Low
September 2, 2020; Mario Sergio Lima, Andrew Rosati, and Simone Preissler Iglesias
Brazil's "coronavoucher" cash transfer program has reduced poverty throughout the country, but economic and fiscal challenges remain.

A first exploratory analysis of the regional economic impact of COVID-19 in Argentina
August 2020; Andrés Niembro and Carla Daniela Calá
This analysis examines the economic impact of the pandemic and ensuing lockdown measures across Argentina, comparing these impacts across local labor markets and employment structures.

For Cuban Government, Desperate Resellers are Dangerous Criminals
August 12, 2020; Chris Dalby
As black market sales of essential goods increase, the Cuban government is responding with expanded enforcement measures and labeling the sellers "enemies of the people."

Covid outbreak exposes dire conditions at Guatemala factory making US brands
August 6, 2020; Tansy Hoskins and Juan Mayorga
Workers facing poor conditions at maquilas in Mexico and Central America have emerged as particularly vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Latin America and the Caribbean
July 2020
This United Nations policy brief analyzes the profound impacts of the pandemic on the region and outlines policies for a recovery based on equality and equity.

How Latin Americans Are Using Pensions as a COVID-19 Lifeline
July 29, 2020; Emile Sweigart
Governments across the region are examining if pension reforms can ease the pandemic-induced economic crisis, but this strategy carries long-term economic risks.

Latin America is battling one disaster as a mammoth recession looms
July 26, 2020; Tim Lester
Several reports detail how the pandemic is wreaking havoc on the region's economies, with the potential for widespread political and social consequences.

In Latin America, the Pandemic Threatens Equality Like Never Before
July 13, 2020; Julie Turkewitz and Sofía Villamil
The pandemic may reverse 20 years of regional progress lowering inequality, as demonstrated by the authors' journey across Colombia.

The pandemic shuts down a lifeline for Cuba
July 4, 2020
Cuba's border closures have halted the movement of money and goods to the country by travelers known as mulas.

How the Global Financial System Is Hobbling South America’s Response to COVID-19
June 29, 2020; Nicolás Aguila
While Argentina and Brazil have implemented different public health responses to the pandemic, their economic recoveries face the same set of challenges due to their positions in the global economy.

São Paulo’s informal entrepreneurs have innovated to adapt to COVID-19, but their underlying vulnerability is nothing to celebrate
June 26, 2020; Kauê Lopes dos Santos, Jonatas Santos, and Larissa Santos
Brazil's chaotic response to the pandemic places informal workers at greater risk while also providing new economic opportunities.

Migrant farmworkers die in Canada, and Mexico wants answers
June 19, 2020; Amanda Coletta and Gabriela Martinez
Mexico is suspending a migrant farmworker program with Canada over coronavirus concerns, straining Canada's farm labor supply.

Una tormenta azotará las democracias latinoamericanas
June 15, 2020; Gustavo A. Flores-Macías
The author argues that timid responses to economic crises stemming from the pandemic could damage the region's already fragile democracies.

Brazil's rescue plan flaws imperil small business recovery
June 3, 2020; Tatiana Bautzer and Carolina Mandl
While the Brazilian government has created several economic recovery programs, administrative barriers and other hurdles raise the perception that the government is focused on large companies at the expense of small businesses.

Undocumented Workers Lose Millions to Wage-Theft — It’s Getting Worse During the Pandemic
May 29, 2020; José Luis Martínez
Undocumented workers in the United States have always faced exploitation with few recourses available, but their situation has worsened due the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Podcast: Venezuela’s Crisis, Outside Powers, Politics, and the Search for a Solution
May 28, 2020; Adam Isacson, Geoff Ramsey, and David Smilde
Geoff Ramsay, Venezuela Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), and David Smilde, WOLA Senior Fellow, discuss COVID-19's impact on Venezuela's ongoing economic, humanitarian, and political crises.

Central America and the Pandemic: Different Priorities and Risky Bets
May 20, 2020; Alexander Segovia
This analysis of Central American government responses to COVID-19 reveals conflicting economic and health priorities across the region in this AULABLOG post.

Ecuador: Growing Political and Economic Repercussions of COVID-19
May 15, 2020; John Polga-Hecimovich
In this AULABLOG post, the author explores the Ecuadorean government's struggle to confront the pandemic's implications.

COVID-19: Political Impact in Latin America
May 1; Maria Victoria Murillo
Columbia University's Institute of Latin American Studies provides a summary of the pandemic's impact on electoral campaigns, national politics, and economic policies for informal workers across the region.

Caribbean Economies in the Time of the Coronavirus
April 2020
This Inter-American Development Bank report examines how the pandemic is creating an unprecedented economic crisis across the Caribbean.

COVID-19 Crisis National Latino Survey
April 2020; Latino Decisions and SOMOS
View results and analysis of a survey exploring the pandemic's educational, economic, and health implications for Latino communities.

COVID-19 in the Caribbean: So Open, so Vulnerable
April 20, 2020; Bert Hoffman
The economic impacts of COVID-19 on Caribbean nations reveals challenges to the region's development model in this AULABLOG post.

Cuba: Dealing with the Global Pandemic
April 17, 2020; Ricardo Torres
In this AULABLOG post, the COVID-19 pandemic presents serious health care challenges and economic implications for Cuba.

¿Cómo será el impacto del coronavirus en la economía según el BID y qué medidas sugiere?
April 13, 2020; El País
This overview of a report by the Inter-American Development Bank analyzes the potential economic impact of the pandemic for the region.

Las Respuestas de Centroamérica Ante la Pandemia: Distintas Prioridades y Apuestas Riesgosas
April 6, 2020; Alexander Segovia
Analysis from a noted economist, published by Fundación Carolina in Madrid, about the political and economic effects of COVID-19 in Central America.

U.S. Latinos among hardest hit by pay cuts, job losses due to coronavirus
April 3, 2020; Jens Manuel Krogstad, Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, and Luis Noe-Bustamante
A recent survey by Pew Research Center reveals the econmic impacts of the pandemic on Latinos in the United States.

Centroamérica: Icefi sugiere medidas de corto, mediano y largo plazo para contrarrestar el impacto de la pandemia del coronavirus COVID-19
March 20, 2020; Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Fiscales (ICEFI)
ICEFI explores various short, medium, and long term measures that Central American governments could implement to limit the negative impacts of the pandemic in their respective countries.

El Salvador Overspent on Hotels Used for Coronavirus Quarantine
December 9, 2020; Alicia Flórez and Héctor Silva Ávalos
Corruption allegations continue to roil President Nayib Bukele's administration, with new evidence of excessive payments to hotels that served as quarantine centers.

Bolsonaro turns to military allies to set Brazil's coronavirus vaccine policy
December 7, 2020; Gabriel Stargardter and Anthony Boadle
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is taking steps to exert influence on the nation's independent health regulator as it begins to approve and distribute COVID-19 vaccines.

The coronavirus has come roaring back into Brazil, shattering illusions it wouldn’t
December 5, 2020; Terrence McCoy and Heloísa Traiano
As cases of COVID-19 rise dramatically across Brazil, local leaders face public indifference to pandemic precautions and public health policies.

With Pandemic Raids, Bukele Government Faces Major Investigation in El Salvador
November 23, 2020; Alex Papadovassilakis
Authorities in El Salvador have launched a corruption investigation into how President Bukele administration's is spending pandemic funds and awarding contracts.

How Mayors Are Ignoring Dysfunction and Handling COVID-19 Among Themselves
November 16, 2020; Eugene Zapata-Garesché, Rodrigo Perpetuo, Agusti Fernández de Losada, and Felipe Llamas
Mayors across Latin America are collaborating to combat the pandemic as national governments fail to address local needs.

How Trump and Bolsonaro Broke Latin America's COVID-19 Defenses
October 27, 2020; David D. Kirkpatrick and José María León Cabrera
A series of policy decisions by the American and Brazilian presidents weakened the region's ability to respond as the pandemic spread, impacting communities from the Amazon to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Desafíos electorales para las democracias latinoamericanas en tiempos de pandemia
October 15, 2020; Melany Barragán
The pandemic poses many challenges to election safety and security across the region during a time of ongoing political and economic crisis.

Ortega Regime Hides 6,000 Covid-19 Related Deaths
October 14, 2020; Havana Times
New research reveals that Nicaragua has the most COVID-19 deaths in Central America, but the government is obscuring those deaths in its official health data.

'He became a hero': Bolsonaro sees popularity surge as Covid-19 spreads
October 10, 2020; Dom Phillips
While emergency aid payments have lifted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's popularity, long term economic and fiscal challenges could reverse this trend.

Argentina and Colombia, a Tale of Two Lockdowns
October 2, 2020; Avery Dyer & Sara Torres
This comparison of pandemic policies across two major Latin American countries reveals the political costs of lockdowns - and why they are not sufficient on their own.

¿Por qué repunta Bolsonaro?
September 2020; Esther Solano Gallego
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has seen his popularity rise during the pandemic, but his strategy to maintain it may not be sustainable.

Mexico: Competing State Strategies and Results on COVID
September 18, 2020; Piper Neulander
This AULABLOG post analyzes contrasting COVID-19 responses among Mexico's governors and the resulting political impacts.

Cuba punches above weight with 'white coat army' during pandemic
September 14, 2020; Sarah Marsh and John Zodzi
Cuba's medical brigades have both supported country efforts against COVID-19 around the world and become another point of contention in the country's foreign relations.

La pandemia empodera a las Fuerzas Armadas en América Latina
September 12, 2020; Federico Rivas Molina, Javier Lafuente, Beatriz Jucá, and Rocío Montes
The armed forces have become more active in politics across the region and the pandemic has only accelerated this development.

Coming Next to Latin America: Even More Political Fragmentation
September 8, 2020; María Victoria Murillo
The pandemic and economic slowdown have deepened political polarization and weakened opportunities for coalition-building.

COVID-19 Presents Challenges for Latinos in U.S. Election
September 4, 2020; Stephen Nuño-Pérez
This AULABlog post discusses the lack of confidence on vote by mail systems among Latinos and anxieties about whether their votes will be counted in the upcoming election.

Lo que América Latina puede aprender de las elecciones durante la pandemia
September 2, 2020; Kevin Casas Z.
As nations across the region prepare for elections, the author presents several lessons to ensure they are safe and fair, with outcomes that are respected by all sides.

Venezuela: A Police State Lashes Out Amid Covid-19
August 28, 2020; Human Rights Watch
The Maduro administration is using pandemic measure to curb dissent from critics of the regime.

Chile police using Covid-19 quarantine as pretext to crush protest, activists say
August 26, 2020; Charis McGowan and Naomi Larsson
Claims of police brutality and human rights violations continue to rise in Chile as the state uses quarantine restrictions to halt demonstrations.

Corruption Cries Mount Over Pandemic Spending in El Salvador
August 25, 2020; Héctor Silva Ávalos and Seth Robbins
In response to corruption allegations and questions about spending by government officials during the pandemic, the Bukele administration has taken actions to hide this financial information from the public.

The coronavirus has hammered Brazil. But somehow, Bolsonaro is getting more popular.
August 24, 2020; Terrence McCoy
Support for President Jair Bolsonaro rises domestically as emergency economic aid reaches Brazil's poor.

As Politicians Clashed, Bolivia’s Pandemic Death Rate Soared
August 22, 2020; María Silvia Trigo, Anatoly Kurmanaev, and Allison McCann
Political tensions between the interim president and opposition groups in Bolivia have exacerbated an inadequate government response to the pandemic.

Trinidad’s 2020 elections and COVID-19
August 6, 2020; Wazim Mowla
The COVID-19 pandemic is playing an outsized and central role in the lead up to Trinidad and Tobago’s general elections.

Tough Times in Latin America
August 3, 2020; Andrés Serbin
The pandemic has created health and economic crises across the region while exacerbating preexisting structural challenges.

Latin America Is Facing a ‘Decline of Democracy’ Under the Pandemic
July 30, 2020; Anatoly Kurmanaev
The political effects of COVID-19 are reverberating throughout the region as leaders in several countires weaken already fragile democratic institutions and norms.

The Inter-American Dialogue Survey: Support for Ortega and the FSLN Collapses During the COVID-19 Crisis
July 24, 2020; Arlen Cerda
The Nicaraguan goverment's denial of the pandemic has lead to significantly weaker public support for President Daniel Ortega, with significant implications for next year's elections.

Brazil’s Coronavirus Catastrophe is Spreading into the Country’s Vulnerable Interior
July 21, 2020; Dom Phillips
As COVID-19 spreads throughout Brazil, small cities and towns struggle with a lack of resources and lack of support from the national government.

OAS: More of the Same in Almagro’s Second Term?
July 20, 2020; Fulton Armstrong
This AULABLOG post previews Luis Almagro's new term as OAS Secretary General, including the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic.

New Cuba bill puts a strain on U.S.-Caribbean relations
July 16, 2020; Wazim Mowla
Recent steps by the United States to punish Caribbean nations that receive Cuban medical missions undermine their pandemic response without providing alternative approach.

Tres acciones esenciales para salir de la pandemia en América Latina
July 15, 2020; José Gomes Temporão and Miguel Lago
The authors present three policy proposals to combat the structural inequalities exacerbating the pandemic's health and social effects.

Covid-19 restrictions are shattering Argentina's short-lived political truce
July 14, 2020; Uki Goñi
The high concentration of cases in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area is threatening the political cooperation the emerged when COVID-19 first arrived in Argentina

I'm from Taiwan, and I'm Here to Help
July 10, 2020; Lucy Hale
"Mask diplomacy" - the distribution of medical aid to extend influence abroad - is a new layer in China and Taiwan's competition for recognition by Latin American governments.

Bolivia in danger of squandering its head start over coronavirus
July 3, 2020; Laurence Blair and Cindy Jiménez Bercerra
The political standoff between interim President Jeanine Áñez and supporters of Evo Morales exacerbates challenges facing Bolivia's pandemic response.

Virus Gains Steam Across Latin America
June 23, 2020; Azam Ahmed, Anatoly Kurmanaev, Daniel Politi, and Ernesto Londoño
While economic and health care challenges increased Latin America's vulnerability to COVID-19, government responses have greatly varied the pandemic's impact across the region.

Los gobiernos hablan, el crimen dispone
June 22, 2020; José Luis Pardo Veiras and Alejandra Sánchez Inzunza
The authors argue that regional governments' poor pandemic responses have provided criminal organizations the opportunity to expand their influence and build goodwill among local populations, potentially creating a new normal of heightened violence.

Brazil ignored the warnings. Now, while other countries fret over a second coronavirus wave, it can't get past its first.
June 16, 2020: Terrence McCoy
Brazil's haphazard pandemic response has put the country on an uncharted path, one that could see it overtake the United States in COVID-19 infections and deaths.

El Salvador: Broad Powers Limit Accountability
June 9, 2020; Human Rights Watch
The Salvadoran government's decision to suspend public information requests during the pandemic removes a key means of accountability, including access to COVID-19 tests for citizens in national quarantine centers.

As the coronavirus accelerates in Haiti, top doctor says no need to test
June 8, 2020; Jacqueline Charles
The pandemic response in Haiti faces faces challenges from the health care system, government response, and societal understandings of COVID-19, leading to discussions of controversial policies among doctors and public health officials.

Starvation Politics in Honduras
June 4, 2020; Jared Olson
In Honduras, a new government aid program distributing food and supplies to citizens faces accusations of clientalism and politicization of the pandemic.

‘Stigmatized, segregated, forgotten’: Colombia’s poor being evicted despite lockdowns
June 2, 2020; Joe Parkin Daniels and Nadège Mazars
As they struggle with the impacts of COVID-19, poor and marginalized communities across Bogota face the threat of eviction and destruction of their homes by government.

El Salvador: How Much has COVID-19 Hurt President Bukele?
May 29, 2020; Héctor Silva Ávalos
While President Nayib Bukele's initial pandemic response was widely popular in El Salvador, this AULABLOG post explores how his managerial weaknesses and authoritarian tendencies risk political and constitutional crises compounding the country's health and economic challenges.

Podcast: Venezuela’s Crisis, Outside Powers, Politics, and the Search for a Solution
May 28, 2020; Adam Isacson, Geoff Ramsey, and David Smilde
Geoff Ramsay, Venezuela Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), and David Smilde, WOLA Senior Fellow, discuss COVID-19's impact on Venezuela's ongoing economic, humanitarian, and political crises.

Chile: Need to Broaden Support for Public Policies
May 26, 2020; Claudio Grossman
In this AULABLOG post the author, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law at the Washington College of Law, examines the Chilean government's response to COVID-19 and its impact on both the ongoing social conflict and efforts for constitutional reform.

Central America and the Pandemic: Different Priorities and Risky Bets
May 20, 2020; Alexander Segovia
This analysis of Central American government responses to COVID-19 reveals conflicting economic and health priorities across the region in this AULABLOG post.

Latin America Needs to Protect Itself From the Virus of Populism
May 19, 2020; Mauricio Cárdenas
With many governments responding to COVID-19 from opposing extremes - national lockdowns or business as usual - the author argues that a middle path exists to protect vulnerable groups while limiting adverse fiscal impacts.

Americas: Authorities must protect people from COVID-19 instead of resorting to repressive measures
May 15, 2020; Amnesty International
This collection of stories from across the region illustrates how government enforcement of lockdowns and other measures put people at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

Ecuador: Growing Political and Economic Repercussions of COVID-19
May 15, 2020; John Polga-Hecimovich
In this AULABLOG post, the author explores the Ecuadorean government's struggle to confront the pandemic's implications.

The COVID-19 Response in El Salvador and Nicaragua: Two Sides of the Same Authoritarian Coin?
May 13, 2020; Wilson Center
This panel discussion, featuring scholars and analysts from both El Salvador and Nicaragua, examines how responses to the pandemic in both countries reflect authoritarian tendencies among their respective presidents.

In Honduras, Coronavirus Lockdown is Enforced at Gunpoint
May 7, 2020; Eimhin O'Reilly
Analysis from InSight Crime regarding how longstanding domestic security policies in Honduras are influencing its pandemic response.

Brazil: Presidential Lockdown?
May 5, 2020; João Jarochinski Silva
The author, a CLALS research fellow, examines how President Jair Bolsonaro's response to COVID-19 is one of several political crises affecting his political standing in this AULABLOG post.

COVID-19: Political Impact in Latin America
May 1; Maria Victoria Murillo
Columbia University's Institute of Latin American Studies provides a summary of the pandemic's impact on electoral campaigns, national politics, and economic policies for informal workers across the region.

How Political Science Explains Countries’ Reactions to COVID-19
April 30, 2020; Agustina Giraudy, Sara Niedzwiecki, and Jennifer Pribble
A comparative analysis of responses to the pandemic between Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico reveals the influence of institutions, from political parties to the welfare state.

Regionalism in the Time of Coronavirus: The Only Way Forward?
April 30, 2020; Leslie Elliott Armijo
Can Latin American leaders combat COVID-19 through cooperation? The author explores the opportunities and challenges of regionalism in this AULABLOG post.

Nicaragua in the Time of COVID-19
April 9, 2020; Kenneth M. Coleman
Published on the Center's AULABLOG, the author examines the implications of the Nicaraguan government's relative inaction towards the pandemic.

Las Respuestas de Centroamérica Ante la Pandemia: Distintas Prioridades y Apuestas Riesgosas
April 6, 2020; Alexander Segovia
Analysis from a noted economist, published by Fundación Carolina in Madrid, about the political and economic effects of COVID-19 in Central America.

Assessing the Political and Social Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis in Latin America
April 2020; Merike Blofield, Bert Hoffmann, and Mariana Llanos
Published by the German Institute of Global and Area Studies in Hamburg, the authors explore responses to COVID-19 by governments throughout the region and their potential implications.

Latin American Responses to the Coronavirus: Some Initial Highlights
March 31, 2020; Chuck Call and Jeffrey Hallock
This summary analyzes research findings on initial measures taken by governments throughout Latin America in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through late March.

Upheaval in Bolivia: Political Crisis, COVID-19, and the Run-up to New Elections
March 27, 2020; Rob Albro, Linda Farthing, and John Walsh
Watch CLALS Research Associate Professor Rob Albro participate in a panel discussion on Bolivia's current political situation, including the implications of COVID-19. (Discussion of COVID-19 begins at the 48:00 mark.)

As Coronavirus hits Latin America, expect serious and enduring effects
*This article is also available in Spanish: Los graves y prolongados efectos del coronavirus en Latinoamérica
March 26, 2020; Chuck Call
SIS Associate Professor Call analyzes government responses to the pandemic across the region and their implications for human rights.

Latin America: The Massive Challenge of COVID-19
March 26, 2020; Carlos Malamud and Rogelio Núñez
Published on the Center's AULABLOG, the authors examine the weakness of Latin American states that could exacerbate the pandemic and potential economic outcomes.

Centroamérica: Icefi sugiere medidas de corto, mediano y largo plazo para contrarrestar el impacto de la pandemia del coronavirus COVID-19
March 20, 2020; Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Fiscales (ICEFI)
ICEFI explores various short, medium, and long term measures that Central American governments could implement to limit the negative impacts of the pandemic in their respective countries.

'Just unimaginable': Latin America's Covid crisis lurches from bad to worse
December 10, 2020; Tom Phillips, William Costa, and Analy Nuño
The region's healthcare system is straining under increasing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, with experts expecting the situation to worsen in the coming months.

Mexico’s coronavirus czar faces criticism as COVID-19 surges
December 9, 2020; Rodrigo Pérez Ortega 
The leader of Mexico's pandemic response has faced intense criticism while managing its many challenges.

Devastated by Covid, Latin America Is Now Unprepared for Vaccine
December 8, 2020; Andrea Navarro, Julia Leite, and Simone Preissler Iglesias
As vaccines become ready for distribution, some worry that Latin American governments might be unprepared for the complexities of their distribution.

Should a coronavirus vaccine be mandatory? In Brazil’s most populous state, it will be.
December 7, 2020; Terrence McCoy
The COVID-19 vaccine debate is at full volume in Brazil, where the governor of São Paulo will make inoculation obligatory for all residents.

Presiones y documentos alterados en Salud para pagar $12.6 millones a una empresa de autopartes
November 16, 2020; Jimmy Alvarado
New reporting in El Salvador raises questions about how the Ministry of Health is soliciting and approving contracts for medical equipment, including a contract to a Spanish auto-parts company for masks and medical equipment.

Cuba leads race for Latin American coronavirus vaccine
November 12, 2020; Sarah Marsh
With two COVID-19 vaccines in clinical trials, Cuba could be a vital vaccine source for the region in the coming year.

La Segunda Ola
October 2020; Salud con lupa
This collection of reporting examines the challenges facing health care systems across Latin America.

How Trump and Bolsonaro Broke Latin America's COVID-19 Defenses
October 27, 2020; David D. Kirkpatrick and José María León Cabrera
A series of policy decisions by the American and Brazilian presidents weakened the region's ability to respond as the pandemic spread, impacting communities from the Amazon to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Guatemala health workers face retaliation over COVID-19 concerns
October 26, 2020; Sandra Cuffe
Healthcare workers across Guatemala, struggling with poor working conditions and unpaid salaries, face retaliation when they publicize these issues.

Latin America’s embrace of an unproven COVID treatment is hindering drug trials
October 20, 2020; Emiliano Rodríguez Mega
The popularity of unproven COVID-19 treatments is influencing government policy and hampering studies to better understand their effectiveness.

Ortega Regime Hides 6,000 Covid-19 Related Deaths
October 14, 2020; Havana Times
New research reveals that Nicaragua has the most COVID-19 deaths in Central America, but the government is obscuring those deaths in its official health data.

Venezuela: Abusive Treatment of Returnees
October 13, 2020; Human Rights Watch
Poor quarantine conditions imposed by Venezuelan authorities place returning migrants at increased risk for COVID-19 transmission and infection.

The Peruvian Poor Can’t Breathe in the Pandemic
October 6, 2020; Milagros Costabel
Corruption and low investment in the health care system made Peru more vulnerable to the pandemic; a shortage of oxygen for serious COVID cases is emblematic of these challenges.

Coronavirus en México: por qué es uno de los países con más muertes de personal sanitario por covid-19 en todo el mundo
September 24, 2020; Marcos González Díaz
Despite government claims to the contrary, reports show that Mexican healthcare workers are more vulnerable to contracting - and dying - from COVID-19 than their counterparts in other countries.

Brand-Name Coronavirus Drug Appears in Venezuela’s Black Market
September 15, 2020; Seth Robbins
As Venezuela's medical system struggles to amidst the pandemic, demand is surging for key medicines on the black market.

Cuba punches above weight with 'white coat army' during pandemic
September 14, 2020; Sarah Marsh and John Zodzi
Cuba's medical brigades have both supported country efforts against COVID-19 around the world and become another point of contention in their foreign relations.

'They think they’ll be left to die': pandemic shakes already fragile Venezuela
August 25, 2020; Tom Phillips
While Venezuela's official death toll stands at just over 300, reports from hospitals around the country reveal how the health care system is struggling to cope with the pandemic.

As Politicians Clashed, Bolivia’s Pandemic Death Rate Soared
August 22, 2020; María Silvia Trigo, Anatoly Kurmanaev, and Allison McCann
Political tensions between the interim president and opposition groups in Bolivia have exacerbated an inadequate government response to the pandemic.

Colombia: Indigenous Kids at Risk of Malnutrition, Death
August 13, 2020; Staff of Human Rights Watch and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health
The Covid-19 pandemic and related lockdown are making it even harder for the Wayuu, an indigenous group in Colombia and Venezuela, to survive.

'I'd Rather Stay Home and Die'
August 10, 2020; Natalie Kitroeff and Paulina Villegas
A deeply rooted fear of hospitals in Mexico is complicating the country's already monumental fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Ortega Levies “Illegal and Immoral” Taxes on Ventilators and Masks to prevent Covid-19
July 31, 2020; Yader Luna
The Nicaraguan government has removed import tax exemptions on medical supplied and equipment critical for combating the pandemic, including masks and ventilators.

Brazil’s Coronavirus Catastrophe is Spreading into the Country’s Vulnerable Interior
July 21, 2020; Dom Phillips
As COVID-19 spreads throughout Brazil, small cities and towns struggle with a lack of resources and lack of support from the national government.

Brazil Health Workers May Have Spread Coronavirus to Indigenous People
July 19, 2020; Manuela Andreoni, Ernesto Londoño, and Letícia Casado
Members of Brazil's indigenous health service appear to be the primary source of COVID-19 spread among indigenous communities.

Latin America sees half of all new Covid-19 infections as health systems flounder
July 4, 2020; Tim Lester
Health inequities within and between Latin American counties lead to strikingly different experiences with, and responses to, the pandemic.

Mexico City deaths spiked to three times normal during covid-19 outbreak, official says
July 2, 2020; Mary Beth Sheridan
The Mexican government's study of excess deaths - the difference between the number of deaths this year and the historical baseline - reveals the challenge and controversy around how COVID-19 cases and deaths are counted.

Despite COVID surge, Mexico avoids overwhelmed hospitals
July 1, 2020; María Verza and Christopher Sherman
Mexico's investment in hospital bed capacity has allowed it to manage the rise in COIVD-19 cases, even as it becomes a global coronavirus hotspot.

Brazil ignored the warnings. Now, while other countries fret over a second coronavirus wave, it can't get past its first.
June 16, 2020; Terrence McCoy
Brazil's haphazard pandemic response has put the country on an uncharted path, one that could see it overtake the United States in COVID infections and deaths.

COVID-19 Susceptibility Among Latin People in El Paso, TX
June 11, 2020; Ernesto Castañeda, Carina Cione, Abby Ferdinando, Jhamiel Prince, Deziree Jackson, Emma Vetter, and Sarah McCarthy
Co-authored by a CAS Associate Professor, this case study of El Paso, TX illustrates the overlapping risks that increase vulnerability to the pandemic within Latino communities.

As the coronavirus accelerates in Haiti, top doctor says no need to test
June 8, 2020; Jacqueline Charles
The pandemic response in Haiti faces faces challenges from the health care system, government response, and societal understandings of COVID-19, leading to discussions of controversial policies among doctors and public health officials.

“En América Latina podemos tener un retroceso histórico en la lucha contra el hambre”
June 8, 2020; Rocío Montes
In this interview, FAO Assistant Director-General Julio Berdegué describes his concerns that the pandemic and economic crisis could undo more than a decade of progress to combat hunger in the region.

Cuba sets example with successful programme to contain coronavirus
June 7, 2020;  Ed Augustin
This anlaysis of Cuban public health measures during the pandemic includes commentary from Professor William LeoGrande, former Dean of American University's School of Public Affairs.

Podcast: Venezuela’s Crisis, Outside Powers, Politics, and the Search for a Solution
May 28, 2020; Adam Isacson, Geoff Ramsey, and David Smilde
Geoff Ramsay, Venezuela Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), and David Smilde, WOLA Senior Fellow, discuss COVID-19's impact on Venezuela's ongoing economic, humanitarian, and political crises.

Cuban doctors fight COVID-19 abroad, but on the island healthcare cuts worry experts
May 26, 2020; Nora Gámez Torres
While Cuba has made headlines by sending COVID-19 medical brigades around the world, budget and staff cuts have hampered the nation's domestic pandemic response.

'We're all on death row now': Latin America's prisons reel from Covid-19
May 16, 2020; Clavel Rangel, Joe Parkin Daniels, Tom Phillips
Prisons are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks, pushing prisoners to riot for greater protections.

Immigration Detention Proves Deadly in the US
May 7, 2020; Felipe de la Hoz
The United States' immigration infrastructure, combined with the Trump administration's policies, place detained immigrants at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19.

COVID-19 Crisis National Latino Survey
April 2020; Latino Decisions and SOMOS
View results and analysis of a survey exploring the pandemic's educational, economic, and health implications for Latino communities.

The Lethal Inequity of Coronavirus
April 2020; School of International Service
In an episode of the SIS podcast Big World, Professor Thespina Yamanis discusses the social determinants of health care inequality and the challenges this presents Latino communities facing COVID-19.

Theft of Critical Medical Equipment Surges in Latin America
April 22, 2020;  María Alejandra Navarrete
From Brazil to Honduras to Mexico, medical equipment is the focus of criminal activity and black markets across the region.

Cuba: Dealing with the Global Pandemic
April 17, 2020; Ricardo Torres
In this AULABLOG post, the COVID-19 pandemic presents serious health care challenges and economic implications for Cuba.

The Health of Undocumented Latinx Immigrants: What We Know and Future Directions
April 2020; India J. Ornelas, Thespina J. Yamanis, and Raymond A. Ruiz
As COVID-19 stresses health care systems across the United States, this research explores the institutional challenges facing health care access for undocumented Latinx immigrants.

COVID-19 fuels growing conflict and displacement in Colombia
December 10, 2020; Joshua Collins
Colombia has seen an uptick in violence and forced displacements as armed group adapt to the pandemic, including increased child recruitment, armed conflict, and extortion.

Cuba: Covid-19 Rules Used to Intensify Repression
December 7, 2020; Human Rights Watch
The Cuban government is utilizing COVID-19 regulations to harass and arrest critics of the ruling Communist Party.

Curfews, Tear Gas, Poverty Wages, and Threats of Infection – Sweatshop Conditions in Honduras
December 4, 2020; Allan Bu
The profile of a women working in a Honduran maquiladora illustrates the lack of protections for workers employed to produce masks and other critical supplies.

Ten ways criminal groups will try to profit from Covid-19 vaccines in 2021
December 3, 2020; Latin America Risk Report
Criminal organizations pose a threat to vaccine distribution, with a variety of methods available to profit and undermine long-term security.

Despite Lynchings, the Pandemic, Closed Shelters — Migrants Still Pushing North
November 27, 2020; Rodrigo Soberanes
Migrants continue to travel through Central America and Mexico to the United States, adjusting to the new challenges and obstacles raised by the pandemic.

In South America, the coronavirus will limit travel to 2020′s top astronomical event
November 22, 2020; Matthew Cappucci
COVID-19 continues to disrupt travel around the region, including a once-in-a-lifetime eclipse and meteor shower in Argentina.

Armed groups target Colombia's children as reform process slows
November 9, 2020; Christina Noriega
Armed groups in Colombia are taking advantage of COVID-19 measures to recruit minors as their activities and conflicts continue.

The difficulty of doing good in Latin America
November 5, 2020; The Economist
The pandemic is disrupting philanthropy across Latin America, destabilizing the field's already weak position in the region.

Pandemic to Worsen Brazil's Troubling School Dropout Rates
October 30, 2020; The Brazilian Report
The pandemic is pushing students to drop out of high school, weakening future economic prospects in households across the country and placing additional pressure on NGOs to confront this trend.

US groups linked to COVID conspiracies pour millions of ‘dark money’ into Latin America
October 29, 2020; Diana Cariboni & Isabella Cota
US-based organizations are funding misinformation campaigns about the pandemic to promote their views on reproductive health and LGBTQ+ rights.

Colombia sees surge in femicides amid uptick in violence
October 20, 2020; Megan Janetsky
The pandemic has increased economic vulnerability and risk of violence for Colombian women while limiting avenues for support.

Venezuela: Abusive Treatment of Returnees
October 13, 2020; Human Rights Watch
Poor quarantine conditions imposed by Venezuelan authorities place returning migrants at increased risk for COVID-19 transmission and infection.

Venezuelans brave 'brutal' migrant route made tougher by pandemic
October 6, 2020; Manuel Rueda
The pandemic has not stopped Venezuelan migration, but it has made the journey more challenging and expensive.

Why Oil Theft Spread Across Latin America During Pandemic
October 1, 2020; Alicia Flórez
Criminal organizations across the region are turning to oil theft as other means of criminal income become less stable.

Why Argentines are flocking to Uruguay
September 26, 2020; The Economist
Uruguay is attracting and welcoming Argentines who wish to leave the country's uncertain economic and political state.

Virus disrupting Rio’s Carnival for first time in a century
September 25, 2020; Marcelo de Sousa
The pandemic has left Brazil's Carnival preparations in disarray, impacting economic and social livelihoods across Rio de Janeiro.

In the Epicenter of Mexico's Epicenter, Feeling Like a 'Trapped Animal'
September 23, 2020; Azam Ahmed
In a Mexico City neighborhood, the pandemic has shattered daily life and livelihoods, leaving residents to choose between illness and hunger.

Latin American cities come alive like COVID is gone, but it’s not
September 18, 2020; Julia Leite, Murilo Fagundes, and Caroline Aragaki
While Latin American cities are lifting restrictions and returning to normalcy, health officials warn that risks remain high across the region and that opening up prematurely could prove catastrophic.

Indigenous Leaders Slain in Peru Amid Pandemic
September 17, 2020; Katie Jones
As governments divert focus and resources to the pandemic response, indigenous leaders in Peru and elsewhere are more vulnerable to violence for opposing illegal extraction activities on their land.

Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees Face a Worsening Outlook
September 16, 2020; Kristen Martinez-Gugerli
Venezuelan migrants face vulnerability and persecution in countries across the region and as they return to Venezuela.

The pandemic further weakens Latin America’s underperforming schools
September 12, 2020
Citing results from a CLALS survey on the impacts of COVID-19 on higher education in the region, The Economist analyzes how the pandemic is affecting education across the region.

Pandemic Drives Millions From Latin America’s Universities
September 4, 2020; Julie Turkewitz
The pandemic-induced economic downturn and transition to online learning is creating challenges for university students across the region and forcing many to abandon their studies. This reporting cites a CLALS survey on the impacts from COVID-19 on higher education in the region.

Criminal Governance Under Coronavirus: How Colombian Groups Seized the Day
September 3, 2020; Colombia Investigative Unit, InSight Crime
The pandemic has disrupted the dynamics of criminal groups across Colombia as they institute their own pandemic responses and fight other groups for additional territory.

Education in the time of COVID-19
August 2020; UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
This report examines the challenges students face as the pandemic disrupts education throughout the region.

Indigenous tribe in Ecuador appeals for help to deal with coronavirus
August 29, 2020; Lianne Kolirin
The pandemic poses an additional threat to already vulnerable Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, which face continued intrusions on their land and receive little support from the government.

How Colombia’s Lockdown Created Ideal Conditions for Child Recruitment
August 28, 2020; Lara Loaiza
Lockdown measures and other pandemic impacts in Colombia have increased youth vulnerability towards recruitment by non-state armed actors.

Protests across Latin America reflect a toxic cocktail of pandemic and recession
August 20, 2020; Tim Lister and Stefano Pozzebon
The pandemic and ensuing economic impacts are aggravating tensions across Latin America, renewing protests that erupted across the region last year.

Pandemic puts brakes on search for missing in Peru
August 13, 2020; Anastasia Moloney
A total of 1,200 women and girls were reported missing from the start of the lockdown on March 16 through July, forcing many to stop searching for their loved ones, according to figures from Peru’s women’s ministry.

Las enseñanzas de educar durante la pandemia
July 27, 2020; Roberto Herrscher
The author, a Chilean professor, analyzes the challenges and opportunities of online education.

Colombia: Armed Groups’ Brutal Covid-19 Measures
July 15, 2020
Human Rights Watch reports that armed groups in Colombia are enforcing their own pandemic responses with threats and violence.

In Latin America, the Pandemic Threatens Equality Like Never Before
July 13, 2020; Julie Turkewitz and Sofía Villamil
The pandemic may reverse 20 years of regional progress lowering inequality, as demonstrated by the authors' journey across Colombia.

Harmful Returns: The Compounded Vulnerabilities of Returned Guatemalans in the Time of COVID-19
June 2020; Yael Schacher and Rachel Schmidtke
Guatemalan migrants, a marginalized population before the pandemic, now face exacerbated vulnerabilities in Mexico, the United States, and their home country.

The Perils of Quédate en Casa: COVID-19 and Gender Violence in Latin America
June 29, 2020; Brenda Werth
This AULABLOG post, written by the Chair of Wold Languages and Cultures, examines how stay at home orders place women throughout Latin America at increased risk of abuse and are weakening the regional movement to address gender violence.

‘We are facing extermination’: Brazil losing a generation of indigenous leaders to Covid-19
June 21, 2020; Dom Phillips
In addition to the human toll, the pandemic threatens their accumulated historical and cultural knowledge of Brazil's indigenous communities.

Why are Black and Latin people in the US more affected by Covid-19?
June 11, 2020; Ernesto Castañeda, Carina Cione, Abby Ferdinando, Jhamiel Prince, Deziree Jackson, Emma Vetter, and Sarah McCarthy
Co-authored by a CAS Associate Professor, this article explores the causes of racial disparities in the pandemic's effects among Latinos and Black Americans in the United States.

What About the Students?: The Educational Response to Covid-19
June 8, 2020; Ariel Fiszbein, Ana Florez, and Sarah Stanton
Findings from a recent survey by the Inter-American Dialogue reveal how education ministries across the region are responding to the pandemic.

Latin America: COVID-19 Challenges Higher Education
June 2, 2020; Eric Hershberg, Alexandra Flinn-Palcic, and Christopher Kambhu
The authors examine results from a recent CLALS survey of university leaders across Latin America, describing the implications of COVID-19 for higher education in the region. Read the full report.

Chile: Need to Broaden Support for Public Policies
May 26, 2020; Claudio Grossman
In this AULABLOG post the author, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law at the Washington College of Law, examines the Chilean government's response to COVID-19 and its impact on both the ongoing social conflict and efforts for constitutional reform.

What Lockdown? World’s Cocaine Traffickers Sniff at Movement Restrictions
May 26, 2020; Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)
Cocaine suppliers have reacted quickly to lockdowns and other policies enacted due to the pandemic, placing some of them in strong financial positions.

Latin America: Organized Crime Taking Advantage of COVID-19
May 22, 2020; Carolina Sampó
While the pandemic has hampered organized crime throughout the region, criminal organizations are adapting to the new reality in this AULABLOG post.

Latin America Needs to Protect Itself From the Virus of Populism
May 19, 2020; Mauricio Cárdenas
With many governments responding to COVID-19 from opposing extremes - national lockdowns or business as usual - the author argues that a middle path exists to protect vulnerable groups while limiting adverse fiscal impacts.

Americas: Authorities must protect people from COVID-19 instead of resorting to repressive measures
May 15, 2020; Amnesty International
This collection of stories from across the region illustrates how government enforcement of lockdowns and other measures put people at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

Log On, or Drop Out: How COVID-19 Is Pushing Students Further Apart
May 14, 2020; Benjamin Russell
The transition to online learning is sparking a new debate about longstanding educational inequality across the region.

The Other Pandemic
May 12, 2020; Alan Kraut
The author, a Distinguished Professor of History at American University, analyzes the racial backlash following the COVID-19 outbreak and how the Trump administration's pandemic response affects immigration and Latino communities.

Six Ways Coronavirus is Impacting Organized Crime in the Americas
May 4, 2020; Parker Asmann, Chris Dalby and Seth Robbins
InSight Crime summarizes how the pandemic is affecting crime and criminal organizations across the region.

COVID-19 Crisis National Latino Survey
April 2020; Latino Decisions and SOMOS
View results and analysis of a survey exploring the pandemic's educational, economic, and health implications for Latino communities.

The Lethal Inequity of Coronavirus
April 2020; School of International Service
In an episode of the SIS podcast Big World, Professor Thespina Yamanis discusses the social determinants of health care inequality and the challenges this presents Latino communities facing COVID-19.

El hambre, la otra crisis del coronavirus
April 28, 2020; Knut Walter
The author, a noted social historian, argues for new government policies to combat food insecurity in El Salvador.

Theft of Critical Medical Equipment Surges in Latin America
April 22, 2020;  María Alejandra Navarrete
From Brazil to Honduras to Mexico, medical equipment is the focus of criminal activity and black markets across the region.

Nicaragua in the Time of COVID-19
April 9, 2020; Kenneth M. Coleman
Published on the Center's AULABLOG, the author examines the implications of the Nicaraguan government's relative inaction towards the pandemic.

Assessing the Political and Social Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis in Latin America
April 2020; Merike Blofield, Bert Hoffmann, and Mariana Llanos
Published by the German Institute of Global and Area Studies in Hamburg, the authors explore responses to COVID-19 by governments throughout the region and their potential implications.

COVID-19 and Latin America: Social Impact, Policies, and a Fiscal Case for an Emergency Social Protection Floor
April 2020; Merike Blofield and Fernando Filgueira
The authors examine current social programs across the region and consider the potential for guaranteed social protections for vulnerable populations in this report from the Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento in Buenos Aires.

Centroamérica: Icefi sugiere medidas de corto, mediano y largo plazo para contrarrestar el impacto de la pandemia del coronavirus COVID-19
March 20, 2020; Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Fiscales (ICEFI)
ICEFI explores various short, medium, and long term measures that Central American governments could implement to limit the negative impacts of the pandemic in their respective countries.

View a calendar showing dates of national school closures due to COVID-19 in Latin America, based on research by Chuck Call and Jeffrey Hallock. Last updated 3/27/2020.

View a list of international travel restrictions enacted across Latin America due to COVID-19, based on research by Chuck Call and Jeffrey Hallock. Last updated 3/26/2020.