Brazil is expected to pass the US’s January high for COVID-19 deaths as the country experiences a deadly virus surge, Reuters reports.
On Tuesday, Brazil set a daily record for deaths due to the virus, with more than 4,000 deaths in a 24-hour period. The country has been experiencing steady daily death rates since February.
The current boom is attributed to a more contagious and rapidly spreading local variant, P.1, coupled with little virus protection measures being implemented in the country, Reuters said.
As the U.S. intensifies its vaccination efforts, Brazil has shifted to the world’s coronavirus epicenter. However, the US is still leading to overall deaths worldwide.
Data from Brazil’s Ministry of Health shows that the country has suffered nearly 337,000 COVID-19 deaths, while the US has experienced more than 555,000 deaths.
So far, the P.1 strain has accounted for a relatively small percentage of the total COVID-19 cases in the US
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the strain, along with other mutations, could disrupt vaccination efforts.