MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil with new daily record of virus cases: 1,284 deaths and 67,860 infections

Brazil with 212 million people has recorded 2.2 million infections and 82,771 deaths from the new coronavirus since confirming its first case five months ago (Pic EFE)

Brazil recorded a new daily record of coronavirus cases on Wednesday with nearly 68,000 infections, a sign COVID-19 is still far from being brought under control in the hard-hit country.

The health ministry said 67,860 new infections and 1,284 deaths had been reported in the past 24 hours in Brazil, which has the second-biggest outbreak in the world after the United States.

Brazil with 212 million people has recorded 2.2 million infections and 82,771 deaths from the new coronavirus since confirming its first case five months ago. Experts say under-testing means the real numbers are probably much higher.

Brazil has struggled to set a strategy for responding to the pandemic.

President Jair Bolsonaro faces criticism for downplaying the virus and attacking social distancing measures adopted by state and local authorities.

Bolsonaro is on his third health minister since the pandemic reached Brazil five months ago, after falling out with two doctors who previously held the post over their recommendations on containing the virus.

The current minister, an interim, is Eduardo Pazuello, an army general with no prior medical experience.

The World Health Organization voiced optimism that the outbreak in Brazil had finally reached a plateau, urging the country to use the opportunity to “take control.” But though the level of daily infections and deaths has stabilized, it remains high.

The country has recorded an average of more than 37,000 infections and 1,050 deaths a day over the past week. Its previous daily infection record was 54,771, on Jun 19.