Brazil tops 251,000 Covid deaths as daily fatalities also set record

• 1,582 Brazilians die in a day amid slow vaccine rollout
• President Jair Bolsonaro again discourages mask use

Brazil has passed two grim landmarks, as deaths from Covid-19 passed 251,000 and the country saw its highest daily toll since the coronavirus was first detected there one year ago.

A total of 1,582 Brazilians died from Covid-19 on Thursday as the country struggles with a slow vaccination rollout, new variants of the disease and an uncoordinated government response.