Brazil approaches 20 million COVID-19 infections

Brasilia, August 4 (RHC)-- Brazil surpassed 558,000 deaths on Tuesday and approached 20 million confirmed coronavirus infections since the beginning of the pandemic.

Data from health authorities indicated that in the last 24 hours the South American giant registered 32,316 new cases and 1,209 deaths due to COVID-19.   To date, Brazil accumulates 558,432 fatalities and 19,985,817 positive cases by the virus, since Covid-19 arrived in the country in February 2020.

Since the end of June, the numbers have fallen consecutively and the weekly average of deaths stands at 942, well below the average recorded on April 12, when the daily average was 3,124 victims, the highest since COVID-19 arrived in Brazil.

In terms of infections, the weekly average was 33,821 positives in the last week, less than half the average of June 23, when 77,328 cases were reported.  In view of the decrease in all levels of the pandemic, Brazil managed to emerge from the hospital collapse in which it found itself due to the second wave of the coronavirus.

The Brazilian Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, announced on Tuesday that Brazil is expected to end September with 50 percent of the population over 18 years of age immunized with two doses of vaccine against COVID-19.
   
In Brazil, 42.1 million people completed their vaccination schedule until Monday with one or two doses, equivalent to 19.89 percent of the population.  The first dose has been applied in Brazil to 101.5 million people, 47.96 percent of the population, according to official data.