Abandoned body highlights Bolivia's coronavirus crisis

The rising toll of COVID-19 deaths is overwhelming the Bolivian city of Cochabamba, where an apparent victim of the new coronavirus body was left in the street for several hours on Saturday.

Florencio Carvallo, President of the District 6 Neighbor where the body was found, said that because most the residents live on rent, "the owners are opting on taking the dead bodies out."

After a few hours, forensic workers showed up and picked up the body.

The sharp increase in coronavirus cases has resulted in a backlog in burials.

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America, with the most precarious health system.

The Andean nation has reported 66,456 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,473 deaths.