The Brazilian government announced on Friday that deaths from COVID-19 in the country is closing in on 150,000, and authorities are urging citizens to avoid crowds and unnecessary travel during the upcoming holidays.
The national death toll from the disease now stands at 149,639, as 682 new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health.
Additionally, the ministry registered another 27,444 cases of the disease in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 5,055,888.
Authorities warned the population against crowds over the long weekend as the nation celebrates the day of the Virgin of Aparecida (Catholic patron saint of Brazil) as well as Children's Day.
The state of Sao Paulo, the most populous in the country, will authorize the reopening of cinemas, theaters, and museums starting Saturday.
In Rio de Janeiro, the second most affected state in the country in terms of deaths, the regional government said that it will resume face-to-face classes in public schools for final-year high school students so they can prepare for university entrance exams.
