Latin American coronavirus deaths overtake North American fatalities

FILE PHOTO: Crematorium employees place the body of a person who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) inside a cremation oven, as the number of deaths continue to rise due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at San Isidro crematory in Mexico City, Mexico May 20, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - The number of deaths from the coronavirus in Latin America has exceeded the figure for North America for the first time since the start of the pandemic, a Reuters count showed on Monday.

Latin America had by Monday seen at least 144,680 deaths so far, compared to 143,847 deaths in North America - comprising Canada and the United States - according to Reuters figures, which are based on official counts.