RIO DE JANEIRO 12 June

Brazil's total confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 800,000 and the death toll surpassed 40,000 on Thursday, local media reported citing the health ministry's data.

In the past 24 hours, the health ministry registered 30,412 new cases, taking the South American country's tally to 802,828, the world's second highest after the United States. 

The death toll reached 40,919 as more than 1,200 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, the third highest after the United States and Britain.

Some 345,595 COVID-19 patients have recovered since the outbreak in the country, the ministry said.

xinhua