COVID-19: Brazil Becomes Country With Third Highest Coronavirus Cases

 

Brazil's confirmed coronavirus cases now make the South-American nation the country with the third-highest COVID-19 cases globally.

Falling two steps behind the United States (1.5 million cases), and a step behind Russia (290,000 cases), Brazil has a total of 254,220 confirmed cases, beating out the likes of Spain and Italy, and Britain.

Its death toll of 16,792 makes it the country with the sixth highest fatalities globally.

The reported numbers are feared to be less than the actual figure, as experts believe that the lack of an expansive testing in the country has brought about the paltry number recorded in the country of over 210 million people.

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Jaie Bolsonaro, Brazil's president, has often described the virus as a "little flu," handling it with the triviality of an inocuous disease, criticising the world's collective "hysteria" in its response to the virus.

He has directed Brazilians to resume economic activities so that the country does not experience an economic downfall. 

Although, the tune is different among the other citizens, as both local and state authorities have enjoined residents to stay at home and observe social distancing.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, two people have resigned as health ministers, with Bolsonaro in search of a third.

In April, Bolsonaro sacked the first health minister who was a strong advocate of the stay-at-home measures, which Bolsonaro kicked against.

The second health minister, Nelson Teich, resigned just less than a month after taking up office over a disagreement with Bolsonaro who insisted that chloroquine be prescribed to treat coronavirus.

Brazil's cases continue to balloon, with hospitals running at full capacity.