BRASILIA (Reuters). -New cases of COVID-19 have jumped 23% across the Americas during the week. Most of the increase was in North America. Both Canada and the United States report increasing infections rates. On Wednesday, the Pan American Health Organization warned that this could lead to a relapse like in Europe.

According to the report, new infections in Canada’s Yukon territory and Northwest territories increased two-to threefold over the week.

There has been an average 37% drop in new infections in Central America. South America is seeing an increasing incidence of COVID-19 in almost every country, except Brazil and Suriname. According to PAHO, the largest jumps occurred in Paraguay and Ecuador.

According to the health agency, cases in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz district rose by 400% after strikes and protests made it impossible for people to access COVID-19 vaccine and testing locations.

Carissa Etienne, Director of PAHO, stated that even though the number of cases has dropped dramatically in the past few months, COVID transmission continues to be active throughout the region. Therefore, every time we reduce our guard the virus gains momentum.”

Etienne cautioned that Europe’s record number of reported cases within the past week could provide a glimpse into America’s future.

Although 51% of Latin Americans and Caribbean residents have received full vaccinations against COVID-19 in Latin America, the coverage of vaccines is lower than 40% for 19 other countries.

PAHO stated that case increases are most common in densely populated regions where preventive measures were lifted or relaxed.

Etienne advised people not to wear masks during the summer holidays in the Southern Hemisphere.

She said that the region saw a significant increase in cases after last year’s holidays and that it took several months for countries like her to decrease their incidence.