Brazil just shy of 50,000 coronavirus deaths, over 1 mln cases, ministry says

Brazil's official coronavirus death toll is just shy of 50,000, the Health Ministry said on Saturday, with more than 1 million confirmed cases in the world No. 2 coronavirus hotspot behind the United States. In Brazil, a total of 49,976 people have officially died from COVID-19, according to the ministry, with a total of 1,067,579 confirmed cases.

Brazil passed 1 million cases on Friday, and 1,022 people have died in the last 24 hours, the ministry said. Experts say the true numbers are likely far higher due to a lack of widespread testing.