After seeing low number of coronavirus case in the early stage of worldwide outbreak, Brazil is staring at a catastrophe as cases spike at apocalyptic rates with more than 25,000 infections recorded in last 24 hours.?
The country reported a daily record of 26,417 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to the Health Ministry, bringing its total tally to 438,238, second only to the United States in confirmed cases.
Brazil’s death toll rose 1,156 from a day earlier to 26,754 confirmed fatalities from the COVID-19 disease, just shy of a record 1,188 deaths registered on May 21.
At the end of March, Brazil had less than 3000 conformed cases, and the country's President Jair Bolsonaro asked citizens to get back to work and had even dismissed the coronavirus threat, saying that it is blown out of proportion.
In an address to the nation, Bolsonaro urged mayors and state governors to roll back lockdown measures that have brought Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to near standstills.??
As Bolsonaro termed coronavirus as 'little flu' showing how much he cared about the impending crisis, the country has witnessed a spike in cases since April that has overwhelmed healthcare system and sees the country on the brink of disaster.?
Bolsonaro has meanwhile pinned his hopes on the medication hydroxychloroquine, which -- like US President Donald Trump -- he has touted as a potential wonder drug against COVID-19.
Brazil's health ministry recommends doctors in the public health system prescribe hydroxychloroquine or a related drug, chloroquine, from the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.
Despite being one of the hardest-hit states, Sao Paulo, the biggest hotspot for cases in Brazil, will begin to gradually reactivate its economy on Monday.
Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria announced on Wednesday that the state will enter a new phase of quarantine as of June 1.
According to Doria, economic activities will return gradually and will depend on a sustained decrease in cases and on the availability of ICU beds.
Contrary to what President Jair Bolsonaro has said, Sao Paulo authorities have stressed that without the quarantines adopted, the number of victims would be much higher.