COVID-19: With 1,473 deaths in one day, Brazil records highest spike since beginning of outbreak

That's equal to more than one death per minute, and means the country now has the world's third highest death toll.

A health worker give instructions to members of Da Costa family after some of them tested positive for COVID-19 at their home in Manacapuru, Amazonas state, Brazil, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo | AP)

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil has reported 1,473 more COVID-19 deaths, the biggest 24-hour increase in the country's death toll since the outbreak began.

That's equal to more than one death per minute, and means the country now has the world's third highest death toll.

For the second straight night, the health ministry delayed release of Thursday's data until 10 p.m. local time, after Brazil's widely watched evening news program ended.

Thursday was the third straight day with a new daily high for Brazil's coronavirus deaths.

Brazil has reported more than 34,000 deaths from the virus so far, meaning it surpassed the amount in Italy and trails only the U.K. and U.S.

Brazil is also at the second position of worst affected countries due to the coronavirus outbreak with 614,941 cases, and recording 254,963 recoveries so far.

Experts consider the tally a significant undercount due to insufficient testing.