Brazil tops 300,000 COVID-19 deaths behind U.S.

Brazil hit 300,000 deaths from the coronavirus on Wednesday, becoming the second country behind the U.S. to see that many deaths from the pandemic.

The country’s health ministry reported the number on Wednesday as Brazil’s hospitals continue to be overwhelmed from the number of cases the country is seeing, The Associated Press reported.

Cases have been surging in Brazil and Europe, with Brazil seeing more than 2,000 deaths a day with almost all its state’s hospitals at 80 percent capacity. 

The U.S. has seen nearly 550,000 deaths from the virus but has a higher population than Brazil. It is unlikely the U.S. will see a resurgence to the level Brazil is experiencing due to the number of people getting vaccinated against the virus.

Brazil’s foreign ministry said they are working with the U.S. to receive any excess coronavirus doses the U.S. may have, although it has not confirmed that these talks were happening. 

President Jair Bolsonaro has been criticized for his lack of coronavirus restrictions in the country in order to keep businesses open. 

The vaccination effort in Brazil has not gone well, with many places running out of doses and doses being delivered at a slow rate.