Brazil’s coronavirus deaths pass 150,000 as infection rate slows

Brazil’s has surpassed 150,000 deaths from coronavirus, according to the country’s health ministry, but there were signs that the rate of infections continued to slow in the South American country. The toll came as Latin America and the Caribbean marked 10 million cases on Saturday and more than 360,000 deaths. The region is the worst hit in terms of fatalities, according to official figures. With 212 million inhabitants, Brazil has accumulated the majority of the region’s deaths: 150,198 from COVID-19 since the first death was recorded in March, and 5,082,637 infections, the ministry said. It is the second-highest national death toll in the world, after the United States, which has recorded more than 213,000 fatalities from COVID-19; and the third-highest number of infections after the US and India. Officials and other health experts say the actual number of fatalities is likely to be higher. In Latin America, Brazil is followed by Colombia, with 894,300 cases and 27,495 deaths; Argentina with 871,455 cases and 23,225 deaths; and Peru with 843,355 cases and 33,158 deaths. Mexico, although it has fewer cases at 809,751, has suffered a high number of deaths – the fourth-highest in the world – with the toll currently 83,507. style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;">