MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil overtakes UK and has the second highest coronavirus death toll

Experts warn the actual number of cases in Latin America's biggest economy could be many times higher than the confirmed figure of 828,810.

Brazil on Friday claimed the unenviable position of having the second-highest coronavirus death toll in the world behind the United States, where several states have posted record daily case totals, signaling the crisis is far from over.

Brazil's health ministry recorded 909 deaths in the past 24 hours, putting the total at 41,828 - meaning the country of 212 million people has surpassed Britain in terms of virus-linked fatalities.

Experts warn the actual number of cases in Latin America's biggest economy could be many times higher than the confirmed figure of 828,810.

Brazil has emerged as a new epicenter in the world's battle with the novel coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year.

In Central and South America, more than 1.5 million people have been infected - and more than 70,000 of them have died - with no signs of the disease slowing.

But in the US, which has confirmed the most virus deaths at more than 114,000, more than a dozen states including two of the most populous, Texas and Florida, reported their highest-ever daily case totals this week.

“It's important that we remember that this situation is unprecedented. And that the pandemic has not ended,” Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a media briefing on Friday.

Nevertheless, US President Donald Trump and many local officials are unbowed in their determination to get the world's biggest economy back on track.

The virus and resulting lockdowns have caused a spike in US unemployment - 44.2 million people have filed claims for jobless benefits since mid-March.

On Wall Street, stocks finished a topsy-turvy session solidly higher, following the European markets. But investors were still worried about increasing US case numbers.

Worldwide, the pandemic has killed more than 422,000 people and infected more than 7.5 million.