This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
Published on July 11, 2020, Brazil surpassed 70,000 coronavirus deaths, a grim milestone in the country's ongoing battle against the pandemic.
The health ministry reported 45,000 new infections and 1,200 deaths over the last 24 hours, taking the totals to 1.8 million cases and 70,400 deaths.
Brazil, a country of 212 million, is the second worst-affected country in the world after the United States.
While the number of deaths has doubled over the last 35 days, the rate of daily fatalities appears to be stabilizing, with some states even reporting a decline in deaths.
However, in some states, such as Rio de Janeiro (653), Ceara (742) and Amazonas (726), the figures are way over the national average.
Experts warn that the stabilization in the number of deaths masks the fact that cases are increasing in previously less affected areas, which could create a 'boomerang' effect, with health services in the interior forced to send patients to large urban centers.
President Jair Bolsonaro has been criticized for his handling of the pandemic, with critics saying he has failed to give a unified message on how to combat the virus.
Bolsonaro has even gone so far as to flout containment measures such as social distancing and the wearing of face masks, and blasted governors over lockdowns that have hurt the economy.
