Photos of mass graves in Brazil show the stark toll of the coronavirus, as experts predict that it will surpass 125,000 deaths by August

REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

• Brazil is predicted to surpass 125,000 COVID-19 deaths by August 4, according to new estimates from the University of Washington. 
• By comparison, the US is expected to reach 131,967 deaths by August 4. Earlier this week, Brazil surpassed the US in the daily death toll from the virus.
• Brazil now has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases, surpassing Russia.
• Photos of mass graves capture the human toll of the coronavirus in Brazil.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Blue, turquoise, and white crosses mark the dead in mass graves in Manaus, Brazil, a visual reminder of the toll the novel coronavirus has had on the country.

Brazil now has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, just behind the United States.

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which also forecasts the potential US death toll and has been used by the White House, has estimated that if no changes are enacted 125,833 people in Brazil would die from the coronavirus by August 4.

As of Wednesday, the country had 25,598 reported deaths.

The same model is projecting that the US will reach 131,967 deaths by August 4. So far, more than 100,000 people have already died from the coronavirus in the US. 

According to Reuters, the estimate was made as Brazil's daily death toll surpassed that of the US. The IHME also called for lockdowns in the country, but President Jair Bolsonaro has refused. 

"Brazil must follow the lead of Wuhan, China, as well as Italy, Spain, and New York by enforcing mandates and measures to gain control of a fast-moving epidemic and reduce transmission of the coronavirus," IHME Director  Christopher Murray wrote.

He added that until Brazil imposed lockdowns, it won't reach its peak of deaths until mid-July. The country will also face a shortage of critical hospital resources. 

Photos published by Reuters showed mass graves and burials across the country as the death toll continues to rise.

REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

According to CNBC, while the US registered 620 deaths on Monday, Brazil had 807 deaths.

The markers are a stark reminder of the growing death toll from the coronavirus, as the US puts travel restrictions on travelers coming to the US from Brazil.

REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

The order applies to foreigners who were in the country within two weeks of trying to enter the US. According to Business Insider, US citizens, legal permanent residents, and their family members are exempt from the ban. 

Brazil surpassed Russia as the country with the second-highest number of infections, right behind the US.

REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

As of Wednesday, Brazil had close to 412,000 cases. Russia had a little more than 370,500 reported cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• Countries around the world are reopening — here's our constantly updated list of how they're doing it and who remains under lockdown
• Sweden touts the success of its controversial lockdown-free coronavirus strategy, but the country still has one of the highest mortality rates in the world
• Hundreds of unmasked revelers enjoyed a 'MAGA Boat Parade' in South Carolina as American coronavirus death toll approaches 100,000

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