Brazil coronavirus deaths near 18,000

Brazil's death toll from coronavirus neared the 18,000 mark on Wednesday, according to a running data by Jonhs Hopkins University.

The university counted 275,087 cases and 17,971 fatalities. It has the third highest case count worldwide.

More than 106,700 people have recovered from the disease.

After showing the death toll higher than the 18,000, the running tally reduced the number to 17,971.

After neighboring countries like Colombia and Paraguay took actions against Brazil's open borders in the fear of worsening coronavirus outbreak, the US also considers imposing a halt on all travel coming from Latin America and Brazil.

As the curve for the COVID-19 pandemic flattens or falls in many parts of the world, the virus continues to surge across the South American region.