Brazil becomes second country to hit one million coronavirus cases after US

With a record of 54,000 new infections in a single day, Brazil has become the second country in the world to hit one million coronavirus cases.

The South American country recorded more than 1,200 deaths for the fourth consecutive day bringing the total to nearly 49,000 yesterday.

This new update comes, two months after the US hit one million infections and just days after the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa Etienne said Brazil was a major concern.

There is possibility this is not the actual figure yet though as a result of lack of testing in the country which has a population of 209 million. Experts are still speculating, the numbers could be higher.

Hours before the latest figures were revealed the World Health Organisation’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the coronavirus pandemic was entering a ‘new and dangerous’ stage.

He said cases were rising at the same time as people are growing weary of lockdowns and governments are seeking to restart their economies.

Walter Braga Netto, the head of the office of the Brazilian president’s chief of staff, known as Casa Civil, and one of the top officials handling the crisis, has previously said it was under control in the country.

‘There is a crisis, we sympathize with bereaved families, but it is managed,’ said Braga Netto, who spoke during a webinar held by the Commercial Association of Rio de Janeiro.

Braga Netto said Brazil’s deaths-per-million-people figure was better than that of Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy and France. As such, the Army general said he ‘was trying to convey a message of optimism in the management of the crisis.’ Follow us on Instagram @sofovilla | Follow us on Twitter @sofovilla | Like our page on Facebook via @sofovillamedia