Brazil also passed 20,000 deaths yesterday and has 310,087 confirmed cases, up over 18,500 in a single day, according to Health Ministry data.

President Jair Bolsonaro is under growing pressure for his handling of the outbreak, which looks set to destroy the Brazilian economy and threatens his re-election hopes.

Bolsonaro said he will approve a 60 billion-real ($10.72 billion) federal aid programme for states and cities hit by coronavirus but asked governors for support freezing public sector pay increases.

In return for signing off on the aid package, Bolsonaro asked governors for their backing in specific measures freezing public sector pay increases for two years.

Speaking later yesterday, Bolsonaro said it was normal for politicians to begin to lose some popularity after more than a year in office.