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Brazil's Singled Day COVID-19 Deaths Soars Above 3,000

VOA News

   Brazil's singleday COVID-19 death tally rose above3,000 forthe first
   time ascitizens of the South American nation
   stagedprotestsdemandingPresident Jair Bolsonaro take action to curtail
   the spread of the virus.

   Thelion shareof Tuesday'srecord 3,251 deathsoccurredin its mostpopulous
   stateof Sao Paulo, with 1,021 new deaths.

   During a national address Tuesday,protesters across the nation banged
   pots toexpress anger at the government's handling of the coronavirus
   outbreak.Speaking to the nation,Bolsonaroexpressed condolences for
   theliveslost, but once again said thevirus willsoon pass.

   Bolsonaro, who has rejected restrictions imposed by local leaders
   saidthatbythe end of the year, Brazil will have more than 500 million
   doses to inoculate all the population, saying 2021 will be the year of
   Brazilians'vaccination.
   Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro celebrates his 66th birthday with
   supporters at the Alvorada Palace, the official presidential residence,
   in Brasilia, Brazil, March 21, 2021.

   He also predicted the people of the South American country willsoon
   returnto anormal life.

   However,Bolsonaro'shistory in dealing with the more than year old
   pandemic doesn't appear to have generated much confidence among
   citizens.

   Bolsonaro, who became infected with the virus lastyear, hasconsistently
   downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19, saying
   restrictionsinthebusinesssectorto curtail the spread of the virus has
   been bad for the economy.

   Brazil continues to lead Latin America with more than 12,000,000
   infections and 295,425 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University
   CovidResourceCenter.

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