Brazil Records Second Highest Daily Death Toll

By Staff, Agencies

Brazilian health authorities registered the second highest daily death toll since the pandemic began to spread across the country.

The health ministry said on Tuesday that 1,374 deaths had been registered in the previous 24 hours.

The highest daily number of deaths registered so far was on 4 June - 1,473.

Brazil is the second-worst affected country after the United States with more than 1.1 million confirmed cases, though the real number is thought to be higher [due to insufficient testing].

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro belittled the threat posed by the virus and clashed with governors over the lockdown measures they have imposed in some states.

On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the president to wear a mask when out in public in the capital or face a fine.