Brazil has recorded 39 637 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours and 873 related deaths, the health ministry said on Sunday.
The numbers reflect a weekend drop in registered cases and deaths. On a rolling seven-day average, Brazil is reporting more than 1 800 deaths a day.
The South American country has now registered 16 947 062 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 473 404, according to ministry data, in the world’s third-worst outbreak outside the United States and India, and its second-deadliest.
Brazil registered 1 454 COVID-19 deaths on Friday.
Cancelling of Copa America tournament
Staff of a Senate commission investigating the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil said on Sunday that the Copa America soccer tournament should not be held in the midst of the world’s second-deadliest outbreak and must be postponed.
Brazil was unexpectedly named as the host of the 10-nation South American championship last week after joint-host Colombia was removed amid ongoing civil unrest and Argentina pulled out due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Monday that Brazil would host all 28 games between June 13 and July 10.
In a letter to the nation’s soccer team, the Senate commission staffers said Brazil had vaccinated only 10.77% of the population until Friday with first doses.
“Brazil does not offer sanitary security for holding an international tournament of this magnitude. In addition to transmitting a false sense of security and normality, opposite to the reality that Brazilians are living, it would encourage agglomerations of people and set a bad example,” it said.
