麻豆社

Hospitals in Brazil's main cities are reaching capacity, health officials are warning, as the country recorded the world's highest Covid-19 death toll over the past week, triggering tighter restrictions on Thursday in its most populous state, Sao Paulo.

Intensive care wards for treating Covid-19 patients have reached critical occupancy levels - over 90% in 15 of 27 state capitals, according to biomedical centre Fiocruz.

As President Jair Bolsonaro rails against lockdowns and urges Brazilians out of their homes, governors and mayors have struggled to enforce restrictions.

David Almeida is the mayor of Manaus where in January the lack of hospitals beds and oxygen put the system under strain.

Picture: The mayor of Manaus David Almeida, Credit: Getty Images