The number of confirmed cases has reached 1,315,941, an increase of 35,887 cases in the last 24 hours.

Brazil is the country with the second-highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in the world.

Brazil also ranks second in the world in terms of total cases, behind the United States.

While at least 8,318 patients are being treated in intensive care units, more than 715,905 patients suffering from coronavirus have been discharged from hospital after being cured.

Sao Paulo, the country’s most-populated state, continues to be the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil. The state has so far reported more than 258,508 confirmed coronavirus cases, with at least 13,966 deaths.

Meanwhile, the country’s health ministry announced an agreement with the United Kingdom to locally produce a vaccine against COVID-19 that has been developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc

“The agreement provides for the purchase of lots of vaccine and technology transfer. If efficacy is demonstrated, 100 million doses will be available to the Brazilian population,” the ministry said.

In Brazil, the technology will be developed by Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation), the foundation of the Ministry of Health.

The Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Elcio Franco, said that the bilateral partnership put Brazil in the lead in the development of the coronavirus vaccine.

“From the agreement, the country strengthens its contribution to the world in the development of a definitive response to the pandemic and reaffirms its commitment to save lives,” the secretary stressed.

ILKHA