Reeling Brazil overtakes China’s fatalities toll

Brazil has registered more than 5000 deaths from COVID-19.

A lifeguard looks out over an empty Ipanema beac. Picture: AFP.

Brazil, the South American country worst hit by the corona­virus pandemic, has registered more than 5000 deaths from COVID-19, pushing the toll above that of China.

A record 474 deaths were recorded on Tuesday, with the number of infections rising to 71,886.

China, where the virus emerged, has recorded about 4600 deaths.

Brazil’s health ministry said its toll could be significantly higher than official figures, with 1156 further deaths under investigation. Experts believe the overall number of COVID-19 cases could be 12 to 15 times higher because of a large number of undetected cases, given the lack of testing availability across the country’s population of 210 million.

Deaths among vulnerable indigenous communities rose by 15 on Monday, a jump of 50 per cent in the past five days, according to the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil.

President Jair Bolsonaro regularly expresses his impatience with restrictions imposed by state governors to slow the disease’s spread and has pushed hard for economic activity to restart.

Asked about the rising death count, Mr Bolsonaro said: “And what? I am sorry about it. What do you want me to do?

“I am Messias,” he said, referring to his middle name, which means Messiah, “but I don’t do miracles.”

Health Minister Nelson Teich said last week as the death toll hit 3000 that it was premature to ­attribute the rise in deaths to a surge in COVID-19 infections. He suggested it could instead be the result of an increase in testing.

AFP