Brazil COVID-19 cases surge to 2 million

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil

The Brazilian government reported on Thursday that the country has registered over 2 million cases of the novel coronavirus after 45,403 new cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, for a total of 2,012,151.

According to the Ministry of Health, 1,322 deaths were recorded in the last 24-hour period, bringing the total to 76,688.

The state of Sao Paulo, the most populous in the country, has been the most heavily affected, with 402,048 cases and 19,038 deaths, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with 134,573 cases and 11,849 deaths, and Ceara, with 144,000 cases and 7,127 deaths.

Brazil has seen the world's second-largest outbreak, after the United States, in terms of both the death toll and caseload.

Peru  

After restricting flight operations for four months to stop the spread of the virus, Peru resumed all flights within its borders.

Despite cases growing in Latin America’s second most affected country, President Martin Vizcarra said Thursday "there is no need" for a new quarantine.

Peru reported 341,586 cases and more than 12,000 deaths Thursday. 

Colombia  

Colombia has 173,206 cases and more than 6,029 deaths.

The capital of Bogota began a strict two-week quarantine by neighborhood earlier this week but doctors have urged a return to a strict citywide confinement to slow coronavirus cases. 

Argentina 

The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Argentina surpassed the 2,000 mark. Cases registered in the South American country is 114,783 with 4,250 new infections, a record daily increase. - Africa