May 23, 2020 - Health

Brazil reports most coronavirus cases outside of the U.S.

New graves at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, Brazil, on May 22. Photo: Michael Dantas/AFP via Getty Images

Brazil is reporting more confirmed coronavirus cases than any country in the world other than the U.S., Johns Hopkins data indicated on Friday evening.

The big picture: Prolonged lapses in testing and tracking, documented by the Washington Post in April, led to severely undercounted death tolls in the country as it emerged as an epicenter of the virus in Latin America.

Where it stands: Brazil is reporting over 330,000 cases and over 21,000 deaths, per Johns Hopkins. More than 135,000 people have recovered from the virus.

  • Experts doubt Russia's official coronavirus toll, and intelligence officials and foreign leaders also question China's numbers.

Go deeper: Confirmed coronavirus deaths in Brazil's largest city spike by over 400%

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U.S. coronavirus death toll crosses 100,000

Data: Johns Hopkins University; Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios

More than 100,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins — a terrible milestone that puts the death toll far beyond some of the most tragic events in U.S. history.

By the numbers: The death toll from COVID-19 now stands at more than 34 times the number of people who died on 9/11.

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U.S. coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios. This graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14.

About 40.7 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic began, including 2.1 million more claims filed from last week.

Why it matters: Even as states reopen their economies, Americans are still seeking relief. Revised data out Thursday also showed U.S. economy shrunk by an annualized 5% in the first quarter — worse than the initially estimate of 4.8%.

Go deeper (1 min. read)ArrowUpdated 56 mins ago - Health

MGM plans to reopen major resorts in June

The Las Vegas Strip on May 21. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

MGM Resorts International plans to reopen four major Las Vegas resorts on June 4, the company announced Wednesday.

The big picture: Nevada depends on tourist dollars and has seen its economy upended by the coronavirus pandemic. But even if casinos and entertainment venues reopen, guests may stay away, as Las Vegas' Clark County is reporting the bulk of Nevada's COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow17 hours ago - Economy & Business