Brazil records 1,803 new Covid-19 deaths amid reports of Chinese vaccine's 50% efficacy against new variant

Brazil recorded over 37,000 new Covid-19 cases and 1,803 deaths on Sunday. Meanwhile, a large study has found that a widely administered Chinese vaccine is 50.7 per cent effective against the new Brazilian variant of the virus known as P1.

Brazil on Sunday recorded 1,803 new COVID-19 deaths, as a large study found that a Chinese vaccine that has become the linchpin in the country’s vaccination campaign is 50.7% effective against the infectious new homegrown variant known as P1. Brazil, which has in recent weeks become the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, saw over 37,000 new cases, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. With over 353,000 deaths, Latin America’s biggest country has the second highest coronavirus death toll in the world, after the United States. The outbreak has recently reached its most severe phase due to a lack of federal restrictions, a patchy vaccine rollout and the P1 variant.