Latin America is facing a rising tide of cases of the new coronavirus, and many countries in the region are ill-equipped to handle it from a public health standpoint. But there’s more at stake: Economic crises are around the corner throughout the region, and these in turn may fundamentally reshape political systems there. By Michael Albertus. Full text -> Foreign Policy

The U.S. State Department proposes Maduro and Guaidó both step aside and make way for free elections. By Elliott Abrams. Full text-> Global Public Affairs (DOS)

The price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia will cut Venezuela’s oil revenue by $6 billion this year, according to consulting firm Ecoanalitica, which estimates 2019 oil revenue was $23.1 billion. By Fabiola Zerpa. Full text-> BNN Bloomberg

The once-wealthy South American country of Venezuela is in the midst of political, economic and humanitarian crises made more severe by U.S. sanctions. And Venezuela’s second-largest city, Maracaibo, was at one time the jewel of its petroleum economy. But the city, along with the rest of the country, is now suffering. Special correspondent Marcia Biggs reports with Pulitzer Center support.. By Marcia Biggs and Frank Carlson. Full text and video -> Pulitzer Center

Nelina Cardalis, 78, is exhausted from work even though it is only noon. She rests her body on a bag of oranges in front of the stand she runs at the makeshift public market close to where she lives in Patare, one of the biggest and most dangerous slums in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. By Gabriela Mesones Rojo. Full text -> The New Humanitarian

“The society is held together by these beautiful matriarch archetypes”, she says. “And beauty is a big part of the culture here; the possibility to be sexy and powerful is a big thing for Venezuelan women”, she explains. Even during protest there’s these moments of striking femininity, just like this female officer whose bright red lipstick glows through the scratched glass of her riot shield. By Laurence Cornet. Full text -> Photographic Museum of Humanity

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó met with President Trump last week. Does he still have a chance of taking power? Here’s everything you need to know: Full text-> The Week

The question that remains unanswered after Juan Guiado’s recent visit to Brussels is what should be the EU’s role in resolving the crisis in Venezuela By Nelson Dordelly Rosales. Full text-> New Europe

A rising number of prominent Latin Americans consider the Venezuelan crisis has to be solved through discussions involving not only the Maduro Mr and government Guaidó but also the US and the Caracas regime’s major backers Cuba, Russia and China. By Team NewsLagoon. Full text -> News Lagoon

Venezuela’s med-tech sector has been virtually decimated by the ongoing crisis, which has not only displaced millions of people but also destroyed the country’s economy over the past four years. By Sergio Held. Full text -> Bioworld