SANTIAGO, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- In a worst case scenario of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) second wave hitting Chile, officials estimate the healthcare system may see as many as 9,560 new daily cases of infection, a leading daily said on Tuesday.

Passengers arrive at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago on November 23, 2020, after Chile resumed international flights after eight months of tight restrictions amid the spread of the COVID-19. (File photo: AFP)

By January, Chile could be looking at three different situations: 3,026 new daily cases; 6,608 daily cases, similar to the second waves currently experienced in Europe; or 9,560 daily cases, the daily El Mercurio reported, citing Health Minister Enrique Paris.

The worst case would entail 2,622 daily cases more than during the height of Chile's pandemic on June 14, when 6,938 single-day infections were reported.

At a press conference Tuesday, Paris said officials wanted to put themselves "in the toughest situation" to better plan for a potential second wave of outbreaks.

Chile reported 1,119 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total caseload to 552,864, and 20 more deaths from the disease, raising the death toll to 15,430.