Brazil tops 2 million coronavirus cases as outbreak worsens

Brazil topped more than 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases with 75,366 deaths on Thursday. Despite the rapid spread of the virus, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has pressured local governments to lift lockdown restrictions. Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, is home to around 210 million people.

Bolsonaro, who tested positive for the virus last week, has played down its health risks and fought against social distancing orders, calling their economic effects worse than the disease itself. Under pressure, many governors and mayors have loosened restrictions in recent weeks, fueling bigger outbreaks. Polls show Bolsonaro's popularity has been sinking during the pandemic. The share of Brazilians that see his government as bad or terrible has risen to 44% according to a late June survey. That was up from 38% in April and 36% in December.