COVID-19 cases, deaths on rise in Brazil, Mexico

The novel coronavirus claimed hundreds of lives in Brazil and Mexico in the past 24 hours, according to health authorities.

Brazil stands as the second worst-hit country by the pandemic worldwide, as its death toll climbed to 82,771 with 1,284 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to its Health Ministry.

Registered cases have topped 2.22 million with 67,860 additions -- the highest single-day rise in the country -- while more than 1.5 million have recovered so far.

With a population of over 211 million, Brazil is viewed as the epicenter of the outbreak in Latin America.

Meanwhile, the Mexican Health Ministry registered 790 new deaths, with the total rising to 41,190.

Confirmed cases are now at least 362,274 in the country as 6,019 more people were infected. Over 213,400 people have recovered.

The first coronavirus case in Mexico was recorded on Feb. 28 and the first fatality on March 19.

Since first appearing in China last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions. The US, Brazil, India, and Russia are currently the countries hardest hit in the world.

The pandemic has killed over 623,400 people worldwide, with more than 15.23 million confirmed cases, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University. Over 8.64 million have recovered from the disease.