Coronavirus Brazil: 68,000 new COVID-19 cases recorded in single day

Brazil has broken a new record for daily new cases of coronavirus with number surging to almost 68,000 and almost 1300 deaths.

Graves on the outskirts of Sao Paulo in Brazil where authorities are struggling to cope with bodies. Picture: Fernando Marron / AFP

Brazil has broken a record for daily coronavirus cases with almost 68,000 diagnosed in a single day.

The country’s death rate has also surged, with 1284 COVID-19 related deaths reported on Wednesday.

It brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to more than 2,227,514. Of those, 82,771 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The country’s previous record for cases reported over a 24 hour period was 54,771, set on June 20.

Brazil has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in the world and has suffered the second most amount of deaths from the virus, beaten only by the United States.

The record spike in infections comes as some parts of the country move towards a partial reopening in a bid to stimulate the South American nation’s economy.

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Graves on the outskirts of Sao Paulo in Brazil where authorities are struggling to cope with bodies. Picture: Fernando Marron / AFP

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for COVID-19 three times in the past two weeks. Picture: Evaristo Sa / AFP

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The record breaking numbers comes as the country’s far right wing President Jair Bolsonaro announced he’d tested positive for the coronavirus. It’s the third time the President has returned a positive test within two weeks, after initially contracting the virus in early July.

Mr Bolsonaro has played down the severity of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, referring to it as a “little flu”.

After receiving his initial diagnosis in early July, he insisted he felt fine and removed his mask in close proximity to a team of reporters. Mr Bolsonaro has said he is treating the illness with hydroxychloroquine.

Reports claim Mr Bolsonaro has now “indefinitely postponed” trips planned throughout the country after returning the positive test on Wednesday.