Brazil is expected to surpass the U.S. January high for deaths from COVID-19 as the country experiences a deadly rise in the virus, Reuters reported.
On Tuesday, Brazil set a daily record of fatalities from the virus, with more than 4,000 deaths recorded in a 24-hour period. Since February, the country has been experiencing constant records of daily deaths.
The current increase is being attributed to a more contagious and rapidly spreading local variant, P.1, along with few virus protection measures being implemented in the country, Reuters notes.
As the United States has increased its vaccination efforts, Brazil has become the epicenter of the world’s coronavirus. However, the United States continues to lead global mortality worldwide.
Data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health show that the country has suffered nearly 337,000 deaths from COVID-19, while the United States has experienced more than 555,000 deaths.
To date, strain P.1 has accounted for a relatively small percentage of global COVID-19 cases in the US
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, notes that the strain, along with other mutations, could disrupt vaccination efforts.