Brazil sets single-day record for coronavirus cases

Brazil registered a single-day record of 115 228 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday, as its outbreak shows new signs of accelerating despite long-delayed vaccination efforts finally gaining steam.

Brazil has recorded the world’s highest COVID-19 death toll outside the United States, with more than half a million lives lost, according to the ministry’s official tally.

But while the situation in the United States and most wealthy nations improves thanks to higher vaccination rates, Brazil and many neighbors in South America this month have seen their biggest outbreaks yet.

Brazil’s seven-day average for new coronavirus cases and deaths is now the highest in the world, having surpassed India last week, according to data compiled by Reuters.

Brazil marked the milestone of 500 000 COVID-19 deaths over the weekend with nationwide protests against the government’s handling of the pandemic.

The country has been slow to roll out vaccines with only 12% of Brazilians fully immunized, according to Health Ministry data.

Efforts have accelerated recently, with certain states such as Sao Paulo predicting shots for all adults by September.