COVID-19 deaths in Brazil double in 12 days

ANKARA

The coronavirus-related deaths in Brazil have doubled in just 12 days with over 20,000 fatalities reported as of Friday.

The South American nation also has an ascending curve among the top five worst-hit countries, registering an average of 864 deaths over the past seven days.

According to data compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University, Brazil has so far reported over 310,000 COVID-19 cases, making it the third-highest country after the US and Russia carrying the infection.

The statistics also revealed that younger people are dying comparatively in higher numbers. While officials attribute this to the young population of Brazil, critics say it is due to violation of coronavirus guidelines by those who are aged under 60 years.

More than half of all deaths and nearly half of all infection cases in South America and the Caribbean region are in Brazil.

The region has to date registered over 645,000 cases and almost 36,000 deaths.

Brazil’s Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL) moved an impeachment motion in the Congress against President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday over his handling of the pandemic.

The petition, signed by 146 individuals and corporations, including former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff of the Workers’ Party (PT), claims the Brazilian president is disrupting the efforts to contain the pandemic as well as the democracy in the country.

Despite a consensus on the state level to impose strict coronavirus guidelines and measures, on the federal level, Bolsonaro encourages his people to continue with their lives and enliven the economy.