(CNN)Brazil connected Friday surpassed the grim milestone of 600,000 Covid-19 deaths, the second-highest fig of fatalities successful the satellite aft the United States, according to John Hopkins University data.
The South American nation, which holds half the continent's population, has present suffered 600,425 coronavirus deaths. It is lone the 2nd state to walk the 600,000 mark, aft the US which has registered 712,695 deaths.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has been heavy criticized for his handling of the pandemic. The blimpish populist person has repeatedly downplayed the gravity of the outbreak, declared helium would not get vaccinated due to the fact that helium had already had Covid-19, and championed the unproven malaria medicine hydroxychloroquine arsenic a treatment.
Over the past year, Bolsonaro has often raged against municipal and state-level lockdown orders successful Brazil, adjacent during the grimmest moments of the pandemic, erstwhile hospitals filled to capableness and full cities ran retired of oxygen.
Earlier this month, thousands of protesters gathered successful large cities crossed Brazil, calling for the President's impeachment amid worsening economical conditions, rising unemployment, and hunger successful the Covid-wracked country.
Bolsonaro, who is up for reelection adjacent year, told satellite leaders astatine the United Nations' General Assembly past period that portion helium regrets "all of the deaths that took spot successful Brazil and worldwide," the toll of unemployment indispensable beryllium balanced against that of the coronavirus.
Deaths person risen sharply successful Brazil, which successful June passed the 500,000 mark.
Vaccines connection hope
But contempt Friday's tragic milestone, determination are present signs that infections successful Brazil are yet ebbing, arsenic the state ramps up vaccinations aft a dilatory start, Reuters reports. More than 70% of Brazilians person received a archetypal dose, compared to 65% successful the United States.
"The rejection complaint of vaccines is truly low, it makes different countries jealous," said Alexandre Naime Barbosa, caput of epidemiology astatine Sao Paulo State University. "That's truly important for Brazil to incorporate the pandemic."
Brazil besides appears to person been spared the worst of the Delta variant truthful far, with registered deaths and cases falling contempt the accomplishment of the much contagious strain.
Reuters, Caitlin Hu, Jonny Hallam and Helen Regan contributed to this study
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