Chile capital Santiago to go under total lockdown after COVID-19 spike

Chile on Wednesday ordered a mandatory total quarantine starting Friday for the capital Santiago's 7 million people after authorities reported a 60 percent spike in coronavirus infections in 24 hours, according to Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich.

The Chilean health ministry reported 2,660 new cases as of 21:00 local time Tuesday, the highest increase in a single day, and 11 new deaths. The country has 34,381 total cases and 346 deaths.

Health workers reported growing rates of infection in early May, just after the conservative government celebrated the fact that infections had "peaked," citing a persistent daily rate of around 500 new cases. The health ministry said it expected the outbreak to peak in May.