Brazil leads daily virus deaths for fifth straight day

Brazil reported the highest daily COVID-19 death toll in the world Tuesday with 1,039 people killed, the fifth straight day the country has topped the list.  Â

Latin America’s largest country, which has emerged as a new epicentre in the coronavirus pandemic, has seen its daily death toll surge past that of the United States, the hardest-hit country so far.  Â

The US recorded a death toll of 657 in the past 24 hours, said the Johns Hopkins University tracker. That was the third day in a row it had come in under 700, bringing the country’s overall toll to 98,875 deaths.  Â

Meanwhile, Brazil’s daily death toll has passed 1,000 four times since the pandemic accelerated in the country a week ago.  Â

Brazil has now confirmed a total of 24,593 deaths, according to health ministry figures.  Â

Experts say under-testing means the real number is probably much higher.  Â

With a population of 210 million people, Brazil has recorded 394,507 infections, second only to the US, which has confirmed more thanÂ
1.68 million.Â