Brazil clocks massive 26k cases in 24 hours; Moscow revises up toll
BRASÍLIA:, May 29, 2020 (AFP) - Brazil registered a new record in COVID-19 cases and more than 1,000 dead in a 24 hour period, according to official figures released on Thursday.
According to health ministry data, 26,417 new cases were confirmed in a 24 hour-period ending late Thursday.
In that same period, Brazil experienced its third highest number of virus deaths since the start of the pandemic: 1,156, bringing the total death toll to 26,754.
Some experts however believe that the actual virus infection rate could be up to 15 times higher because there has been no widespread testing in Brazil.
RUSSIA REVISES UP COVID FATALITIES
MOSCOW: The city of Moscow has issued a revised version of its coronavirus death toll for April, more than doubling the original tally by using what it said was an alternative counting method.
The city initially reported 636 coronavirus-related deaths for April. In its revised version, Moscow’s Health Department said in a statement that the toll was 1,561 when it included 756 people diagnosed with the coronavirus who died of other causes and 169 people suspected of having the virus despite testing negative.
Such a counting method would take into account “even controversial, questionable cases”. Under the revised count, the city’s death rate from the virus was between 1.4% and 2.8%.