Brazil is approaching the grim milestone of 100,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19.
That comes five months after the first reported case in a nation of 210 million, which has not shown signs of slowing the disease. Brazil has reported an average of more than 1,000 daily deaths from the pandemic since late May.
The Health Ministry on Friday reported a total of 2,962,442 confirmed cases and 99,572 deaths -- tolls second only to the United States. As in many countries, experts believe both numbers are severe undercounts due to insufficient testing.
The non-governmental group Rio de Paz placed crosses and a thousand red balloons on the sand on the famed Copacabana beach on Saturday.
“It’s very sad. Those 100,000 represent various families, friends, parents, children,” said Marcio Silva, 55, who lost his children in the pandemic and joined the tribute.
