Brazilian army helps disinfect care unit in Rio

Members of Brazil's Army East Joint Command unit carried out a disinfecting operation to the sounds of army band music played at the Urgent Care Unit Marechal Hermes, in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.

Together with employees from Rio de Janeiro's state government, they cleaned the public areas help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"We brought the music band from the First Army division to calm patients down," said Colonel Rego Barros, the spokesperson for the East Joint Command.

"I am afraid because there are so many people dying," said Michele Elen, a patient fearing for her health and that of her loved ones who came to the unit with COVID-19 symptoms to get an X-ray.

According to Johns Hopkins University count of coronavirus cases, Brazil now has 121,600 confirmed and 8,022 deaths directly related to the virus.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the new coronavirus can cause more severe illness and lead to death.