200619 Brazil
A man handles a fish at Panair Municipal Market in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, on June 17, 2020, amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Image Credit: AFP

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s Health Ministry reported new COVID-19 statistics on Thursday showing the country fast approaching 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 50,000 deaths.

With the world’s worst outbreak outside the United States, Brazil now has 978,142 confirmed cases and 47,748 deaths, up 1,238 from Wednesday, the ministry said.