Mexico and Brazil report record surge in coronavirus cases

Mexico's health ministry on May 15 confirmed 290 additional coronavirus deaths and 2,437 new infections in a fresh one-day record rise in cases since the start of the pandemic.

A resident of the shelter Stella Maris Complex for elderly people, homeless and patients with mental disorders managed by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall wears a protective face mask as she reacts, amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 14, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)
A resident of the shelter Stella Maris Complex for elderly people, homeless and patients with mental disorders managed by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall wears a protective face mask as she reacts, amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 14, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)

The new infections brought confirmed coronavirus cases to 45,032 and 4,767 deaths in total, according to the official tally.

Mexico's previous highest daily confirmed cases total was a day earlier on May 14, when authorities reported 2,409 new infections. Mexico's highest daily death toll was on May 12, when health authorities reported 353 fatalities.

* Brazil confirmed 15,305 new cases of the novel coronavirus on May 15, a record for a 24-hour period, as well as 824 related deaths, according to data from the Health Ministry.

Brazil has registered 218,223 confirmed coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic and 14,817 deaths.

Reuters