Brazil is expected to pass the US January all-time high for COVID-19 deaths as the country experiences a deadly virus surge, Reuters reported.
On Tuesday, Brazil set a daily record for fatalities from the virus, with more than 4,000 deaths in a 24-hour period. The country has had consistent daily death registers since February.
The current rise is attributed to a more contagious and rapidly spreading local variant, P.1, coupled with few virus protection measures being implemented in the country, Reuters notes.
As the US has ramped up its vaccination efforts, Brazil has shifted to the world’s coronavirus epicenter. However, the US is still a global leader in the number of deaths.
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 fatalities.
Until now, the P.1 strain accounted for a relatively small percentage of total US COVID-19 cases.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the strain, along with other mutations, could interfere with vaccination efforts.