Brazil registers 1,254 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours

FILE PHOTO: Gravediggers work during the burial of Jailton de Meneses, 43, who passed away due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Joao Lucio hospital, at the Parque Taruma cemetery in Manaus, Brazil, January 17, 2021. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

Brazil registered 56,002 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and 1,254 related deaths, according to data released by the Health Ministry.

The country has registered 9,339,420 total confirmed cases and 227,563 deaths due to the virus — the highest death toll outside the United States.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Brad Haynes)