Rio mayor imposes Covid curfew to avert repeat of last year's 'genocide'

• Scientists call for immediate 14-day lockdown
• Brazil suffers record 1,840 daily fatalities

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro has ordered a coronavirus curfew" in the hope of sparing the seaside city a repeat of last year's Covid-19 genocide" when it was pummeled by the disease.

The nighttime prohibition, which Mayor Eduardo Paes said would last from 11pm to 5am, was announced as hospitals across Brazil buckled under the strain of a crippling upsurge in infections and the South American country suffered its worst day of losses since the pandemic began.