Brazil Second Only to U.S. Coronavirus Infections and Deaths
M. HOLMES: And welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes. The U.S. is very close to hitting 5 million confirmed coronavirus cases. So far, more than 162,000 people we know in the country have died. According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States has by far the highest case count and death toll in the world, about a quarter of the world's totals in both of those areas. Medical experts say the Trump administration's approach clearly isn't working, saying there is no coherent federal strategy; there never has been. There's been too much mixed messaging and a demonization of science. And right now there is a gigantic biker rally going on in South Dakota. Some tell CNN that it is their right to not wear a mask in these crowds. But medical experts and researchers say, if Americans don't wear masks or socially distance, tens of thousands more people are going to die by the end of the year. The country with the second highest case count in the world is Brazil, more than 3 million infections. And the outbreak has taken a staggering number of lives there, too, a grim number that took only a few months to reach. Here's Matt Rivers.</s>MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We know that the outbreak in Brazil is one of the worst in the world. And the data that we get just continues to back that up. A horrible new milestone has been reached in Brazil, with the country's death toll now surpassing 100,000 for the first time. The overall number of cases in that country is also now topping 3 million for the first time. This after some new information on Saturday from the country's health ministry recorded nearly 50,000 newly confirmed cases and just over 900 newly confirmed deaths. Meanwhile, we did hear from president Jair Bolsonaro, who, from the get-go, has basically been flippant about the fact that tens of thousands of Brazilians have lost their lives. It was reacting to the news of 100,000 deaths that the president said, "We are going to get on with life and look for a way to get away from this problem."</s>RIVERS: Now nearly 25 percent of all deaths recorded have come from the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, which just, on Saturday, surpassed the 25,000-death threshold. But despite that, the state continues to advance its reopening plan. Since Thursday, bars and restaurants in the capital of Sao Paulo state can be open during the night. But the governor there said he is not going to allow in-person schooling to resume because he said any slip- up during this reopening could be fatal -- Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.</s>M. HOLMES: Well, call it pandemic fatigue or burnout or just plain apathy but, in some places where coronavirus is raging, massive groups of people are getting way too close for comfort. Here's a look at some of them.</s>M. HOLMES (voice-over): Crowded streets, packed bars: it's the weekend in Rio de Janeiro and people are partying like there's no pandemic. There are few masks, no social distancing, even though the country's death toll from the coronavirus is around 100,000. "I know that I'm not doing the best thing in being here," one student says, "but at least I'm using a face mask. Those people are drinking, having a good time. They don't know where their cup came from." But Rio isn't the only place where people are out and about without taking proper precautions. Crowds packing the seaside resort of Blackpool in northwest England, filling the promenade and the beaches, with people trying to escape the summer heat even though cases are on the rise across the U.K. Paris is taking measures to crack down on scenes like this. As of Monday, masks will be required by everyone over 11 years of age in busy outdoor areas. Reaction so far: mixed. "I find it unnecessary when there aren't many people," one resident says. "But when there are more people, it is good that people wear masks." Vietnam is testing and testing again to contain an outbreak that began in the city of Da Nang. Officials say thousands of people who recently returned from the resort town will get more accurate swab tests instead of the ones they initially took. They say large-scale testing and strict community guidelines helped keep infections low once before. "We got through the last time," one person says. "As long as all of us comply with these policies, we will get through this together." Following the rules, heeding the science, right now, they could be the best options to beat back the coronavirus.</s>M. HOLMES: We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, the U.S. Postal Service announcing a hiring freeze. The head of the Postal Workers' Union tells us, after the break, how all of these changes could impact mail-in voting in November.