BUENOS AIRES / ANKARA

Brazil, current the world’s second worst-hit country by the novel coronavirus, reported 892 deaths over the last 24 hours, while Mexico saw 424 fatalities.

Brazil’s Health Ministry said in a statement that the total death toll reached 42,720.

The number of novel coronavirus cases rose 21,704 in the last 24 hours, reaching 850,514.

The country's commercial center, Sao Paulo, with a population of about 46 million, stands out as the most affected region by the epidemic, with 172,875 cases and 10,581 virus-related deaths.

Brazil, with a population exceeding 211 million, is the epicenter of the outbreak in the region.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s Health Ministry said that the total death toll from the virus reached 16,872.

A total of 3,494 more people tested positive for coronavirus over the past 24 hours, raising the overall count to 142,690.

Mexico confirmed its first case on Feb. 28 and the first death from COVID-19 on March 19.

Since originating in Wuhan, China last December, the pandemic has claimed over 430,000 lives in 188 countries and regions.

The US, Brazil, and Russia are currently the world’s worst-hit countries.

Some 7.79 million cases have been reported worldwide, while some 3.7 million people have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing by Handan Kazanci