By Staff, Agencies The pandemic continues to spread across the world, reaching 36,000,000 infected globally, according to Johns Hopkins University, with the highest number of confirmed cases in the United States [7.5 million], India [6.84 million], and Brazil [5 million]. Brazil became on Wednesday the third country to surpass 5 million coronavirus cases, as the virus death toll in the nation neared 150,000.

Brazil has the third-highest number of cases after India [almost 6.8 million] and the US [over 7.5 million], per Johns Hopkins.

It has the second-highest death toll from COVID-19 [over 148,200] after the US [nearly 211,800].

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the virus and opposed lockdowns.

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro epidemiologist Roberto Medronh told Reuters, “We are seeing the authorities easing social distancing more and more despite the number of cases”.

The global death toll from the virus has now surpassed 1,054,000, forcing numerous countries to introduce mandatory mask-wearing, travel restrictions, and curfews in order to curb the disease.

At the same time, multiple labs are developing coronavirus vaccines, with Russia's Sputnik V being the first officially registered.

It is at present undergoing stage III trails