MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Brazil surpasses 30,000 coronavirus deaths; in Sao Paulo City partial lifting of the lockdown delayed
The overall number of confirmed cases - 555,383 - makes Brazil the second most affected country after the United States 
Experts estimate the real number of infections could be up to 15 times higher than official figures, given relatively little testing across the vast country of 210 million. Brazil surpassed 30,000 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday as the disease continued to rip through South America's worst-hit country. Figures released by the health ministry showed a new record 1,262 deaths in the previous 24 hours, as well as 28,936 new infections.
The figures come as some Brazilian states began to emerge from weeks of economically-stifling quarantine measures despite warnings from the WHO and epidemiologists.
The overall number of confirmed cases - 555,383 - makes Brazil the second most affected country after the United States. The official COVID-19 death toll of 31,199 released on Tuesday is the fourth-highest in the world, after the US, Britain and Italy.
Experts estimate the real number of infections could be up to 15 times higher than official figures, given relatively little testing across the vast country of 210 million.
In a worrying sign, Sao Paulo state on Tuesday recorded its highest daily figures for both deaths and infections, on the day when cities across the state began reopening shopping malls and offices. Sao Paulo now has a total of nearly 120,000 cases with almost 8,000 deaths.
In Sao Paulo itself, Mayor Bruno Covas has put back reopening non-essential businesses until after Jun 15.
The other worst affected state, Rio de Janeiro, also began emerging from quarantine measures on Tuesday with beaches and businesses re-opening.
“In the current situation, relaxing the measures is adding gasoline to the fire,” Rafael Galliez, an infections expert at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro said.
The regional office of the World Health Organization warned Brazil on Tuesday against reopening “too quickly as there is a risk of a resurgence of COVID-19.”
The health ministry said there was “no way to specify when the peak of deaths will occur” due to the country's size and geographic diversity.
Brazil's health crisis has merged with a political crisis, as far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has openly clashed with local authorities that insist on lockdown measures.
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Read all commentsEnrique Massot
Jun 04th, 2020 - 05:55 pm +1Isn't it interesting that the protesters have completely dropped their COVID19 social distancing precautions and makes a person question what will eventually occur..
I would remember the wry quote: “Lies, damned lies and statistics”
Look at the official reported “statistics” by TOTAL number by each country.
The world's most populous country where the virus pandemic originated is ranked #18
The most second populous bordering China ranks #7
Chile with 17 million inhabitants #13
...and Argentina with 45 million is miraculously at #40
I do sympathize with the terrible losses of life and certainly would applaud Argentina's amazingly successful in keeping the COVID19 infection rate low. I just suspicion the data reported, based on earlier experiences.
The truly sad statistic is the actual unknown rate worldwide heavenly ravaging underdeveloped countries.
Speaking of the popular protests occurring to your next-door neighbor, the reliably trustable and honest media explains to us that the peaceful manifestation of social injustice was spontaneous and not a coordinated attack upon our nation: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8384139/NYC-looters-dropped-cars-tools-picked-driven-location.html
“The overall number of confirmed cases - 555,383 - makes Brazil the second most affected country after the United States.”
Jun 03rd, 2020 - 10:15 pm -1“Gripezinha” Bolsonaro is doing his best to follow his pal @Bunker Boy in his disastrous management of the Covid-19 pandemic. This time, the incompetence and greed of right-wing, racist politicians can be clearly measured in numbers of fatal victims.
@Bunker Boy has added his inflammatory discourse that has fueled -- instead of calming -- the popular protest after the horrifying killing of George Floyd.
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