Sao Paolo: In new grim record, Brazil has registered 4,195 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with authorities linking the uptick in numbers to the third wave of the deadly outbreak across the country.

According to Brazilian Health Ministry, it is the deadliest day of the pandemic yet for the hard-hit country, total reported death toll is now almost 337,000.

The country has the second highest death toll in the world, behind the US.

The ICU’s in several Hospitals are overcrowded, with people dying as they wait for treatment in some cities.

The health system is on the brink of collapse in many areas of the country. However, the President Jair Bolsonaro continues to reject public health restrictions and oppose any lockdown measures to avoide the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Brazilian President argues that the damage to the economy would be worse than the effects of the virus itself and tried to reverse some of the restrictions imposed by local authorities.

As per Health Ministry, some 66,570 people died with the deadly virus in March, more than double the previous monthly record.

To date, Brazil has recorded more than 13 million cases of Covid-19.

Earlier in March, Brazil recorded 79,876 new cases, the third highest number in a single day, following which the Health experts gave warning that the transmission rate is worse by more contagious variants.