Chile broke its single day record for new cases of the coronavirus, health officials said, leaving hospitals on the verge of collapse even as the South American nation races on with a mass vaccination programme.

Cases have been ticking up for weeks following the end of the southern hemisphere summer holiday, but soared to 7,084, above the previous high of 6,938 last June, the data shows.

The fast rising caseload has filled critical care wards north to south, leaving Chile with just 198 beds available for new patients. All of the capital Santiago, the economic engine, is in strict lockdown this weekend, Reuters reported.