3 June
Brazil recorded the highest daily number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world on Tuesday. This report comes as the country is beginning to ease its way back from an economic lockdown.
Brazil confirmed 28,936 new cases and 1,262 new deaths, surpassing the daily numbers in the United States. The total number of confirmed cases in Brazil now stands at 555,383. The total number of deaths stands at 31,199.
The number of infections is rapidly increasing in the densely-populated slums, called favelas.
Sao Paulo is the country's largest city. It has been hit the hardest by the outbreak. The city started reopening parts of its economy at the beginning of June.
Authorities cited as a reason their belief that hospitals are sufficiently prepared. Large shopping malls are among the businesses that have been given the green light.
But concerns about the further spread of the virus remain. The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak in Brazil has yet to reached its peak.
Turmoil has occurred in some regions. People opposed to the reopening of the economy have clashed with supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has pushed ahead with the reopening.
NHK
