Brazil exceeds 2,000 Covid related deaths in a single day for first time

Brazil has exceeded 2,000 Covid-related deaths in a single day for the first time on wednesday, as infection rates soar. The country has the second highest death toll in the world, behind the US, with a total of 268,370 fatalities.

 

On Wednesday, the country recorded 79,876 new cases, the third highest number in a single day. A surge in cases in recent days has been attributed to the spread of a highly contagious variant of the virus - named P1. Experts warn the transmission



rate is made worse by more contagious variants.

World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described the situation in Brazil as "very concerning" and warned of a possible regional spillover.

Today is the anniversary of a pandemic being declared by the World Health Organization. Worldwide more than 118 million cases of the virus have been recorded, and more than 2.6 million deaths.